"To see the world and leave out Sintra is to go blind about": an old Spanish proverb, so quite a compliment. It is fabulous, with palaces and castle perched almost impossibly on Byron's "horrid crags", the Museu do Brinquedo toy museum, the Museu de Arte Moderna and far too much more to list. The buildings are superb and there are lots of cafes and restaurants where you can sit outside and savour the scenery.

Palacio da Pena (photo: Tania Fonseca)

There's a sense of mystery too. The clouds often brood over the mountain top and the place abounds with legends about cult worship, ley lines and peculiar forces that drain batteries and kill light bulbs (supposedly something to do with the iron in the rock) ...

Castle in the clouds (photo: Christopher Page)

Trains to Lisbon go several times an hour, so it's well worth staying for several days to see Sintra and explore the capital. You can also go south by car or bus to Estoril and Cascais and take the tram to Colares and its vineyards and the seaside at Praia das Macas. And don't miss Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point in Europe.

Cabo da Roca (photo: Paul Gill)

For your stay we offer Quinta Verde, a fine country house with rooms and apartments at Casal da Granja, 5km north of Sintra and 7km from the sea.

Do please Contact Us with any queries.