Portuguese Sintra .. 5 castles and palaces that take you to another world

Arabiaweather.com- Ismail Ghasemi- If you are visiting the Portuguese capital, Lisbon , you must head to the old Sintra for a fun one-day tour only, because the town is only 40 minutes away by train and has a number of beautiful castles and palaces.

The ancient town of Sintra or Sintra is located in the Lisbon region of the capital, and it is a city classified as a UNESCO World Heritage, as it includes a number of various historical monuments, including the National Palace or Palacio Nacional, which is represented in the former royal palace and its roots extend back to the period of Moorish rule.

After the restoration of the palace, it became the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family, and it was expanded and renovated further. The current palace still looks as it was during the 16th century, especially with its two conical lighthouses, which became the hallmark of the city of Sintra.

Among the most famous palaces in Sintra is the Pena National Palace, which looks like a fairy tale or Disneyland with its colorful towers. The palace is located on top of a hill overlooking the old town and is surrounded by a vast garden full of plants and trees.

As for the Moroccan Castle, it occupies a privileged location on one of the hills, and this castle dates back to the eighth century and is today considered one of the most famous tourist attractions in Portugal and a great place to enjoy a beautiful view of the town of Sintra.

There is another palace close to the city center called Quinta da Ragaira or Ragaira Ragaira, which is an architectural masterpiece surrounded by towers and hidden caves in the middle of the picturesque nature. In turn, it was included in the World Heritage Sites along with the Pena Palace and Monserrate.

Speaking of the Monserrat Palace, we are referring to a more modern era. This palace was established during the 18th century, and it is characterized by an oriental architectural design amidst beautiful gardens and near a lake that adds more romance to the palace.