The day I arrived, the Portuguese national parks service announced that all but one of Sintra’s palaces would be closed due ...

Pena Palace stands as Sintra's crowning jewel. Sitting high above the town on a hill, this vibrant castle is a whimsical ...

The castle served as a fortification for the Romans, Visigoths and the Moors, who turned it into a royal palace before it was eventually taken by Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques.

Portugal is a country that can fulfill ... Don’t miss your chance to explore Pena’s Palace as well as several other historic castles while in Sintra. Algarve has everything you could ever ...

Portugal's many lively cities ... then spend the rest of your day visiting top sights like the Bélem Tower, São Jorge Castle and the Jerónimos Monastery. If you need a break from trudging ...

Castle of the Moors ... I set out to explore Sintra on foot. Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal. Walking down steep, twisting lanes into the centre of town, I passed the (closed) road up to the ...