'Real-life fairytale' town near popular city under 3 hours from the UK

The historical municipality is location to a fig of stunning palaces and castles, and has been labelled a 'real-life fairytale'

Portugal, with its stunning cities and charming towns, is simply a favourite among holidaymakers. One specified spot that's been dubbed a 'real-life fairytale' is the beauteous municipality of Sintra, nestled on the Portuguese Riviera adjacent Lisbon.

Once a summertime retreat for Portugal's nobility and Royal family, Sintra's past is evident successful its villas, castles, and palaces. These person go tourer hotspots owed to their Romanticist architecture and captivating gardens.

Sintra is little than 4 hours from the UK, with flights to Lisbon taking astir 2 hours and 50 minutes. From Lisbon, a 40-50 infinitesimal bid thrust volition get you to Sintra.

Visitors tin take to enactment successful Sintra oregon publication a edifice successful Lisbon and marque a time travel to this historical UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of Sintra's apical attractions is the Palácio Nacional da Pena, 1 of Portugal's 7 wonders. This vibrant castle began arsenic a chapel, past became a monastery earlier being transformed into a Royal retreat by King Consort Ferdinand II successful 1838.

The castle remained successful Royal possession until 1910, erstwhile the Royal household and overmuch of the country's nobility fled to Brazil during the revolution. Since then, Pena Palace has been restored to its erstwhile glory. Another must-visit is the ruins of the Castle of the Moors, a hilltop medieval castle captured by Christian Crusaders.

The castle was seized by Crusaders successful 1147 and subsequently fell into disrepair. King Consort Ferdinand II aboriginal acquired the ruins, transforming them into the architectural marvel that they are today.

Sintra besides boasts the Quinta da Regaleira, a unsocial neo-gothic mansion adorned with mythological and Knights Templar symbols, including an 'initiation well.'

But the attractions don't halt there; visitors mightiness besides privation to research the Monserrate Palace, an Arabian-inspired villa with serene gardens that are apt little crowded than the town's different landmarks.

Another must-see castle is the breathtaking Sintra National Palace, which dates backmost to the medieval play and is believed to beryllium the lone palace whose beingness spans the full past of Portugal.

The archetypal gathering of the palace is thought to person been erected astir the 10th oregon 11th period erstwhile Sintra was nether Moorish rule, but thing from this epoch remains standing.

The oldest portion of the castle is the chapel, dating backmost to the 14th century, portion overmuch of the existent operation hails from the 15th century.