Sintra, World Heritage Site

Escape to the country...... 40 minutes by local train to Sintra and the Park and Palace of Pena. Set in 85acres of stunning gardens, trails, an aboretum and more palaces than you can shake a  stick at (8 plus various other historic structures) you could spend days here. We visited Pena Palace, started in the 12th century as a monestary, devastated by an earthquake in the17th century and then acquired by King Ferdinand in the 18th century and frou-froued up in Portuguese romantic style.  It's. Incredible, a  blend of over the top new fairytale, blended with Moorish influence and traditional blue and white Portuguese tile. Lovely to see the soft green spring colours and be amidst nature after the buildings and terracotta colours of Lisbon's roof tiles.  

Just click on the photo to enlarge and see in detail :)