Set on the west coast of Portugal in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains, the town of the same name is a wonderland of historical castles and palaces. These architectural jewels range from the 12th-century Moorish fortress, with its imposing stone walls and the elegant white facade of the medieval Sintra National Palace, to the eerie Gothic extravagance and exquisite gardens of the Quinta Regaleira. The most famous of its ancient citadels is the hilltop Pena Palace, a Romanticist masterpiece with fantastical turrets, domes, vaulted arches and crenellated walls, recently restored to its original purple and ochre colours. Make sure to take a wander through the city’s old quarter, where a network of narrow alleys lead past exclusive boutiques and souvenir shops, cosy taverns and traditional bakeries; or head to Pena Park for a stroll along its beautiful forested trails.