Located 20 km North of Lisbon, the city of Sintra is located in the hills and therefore has amore favorable temperature than the city in the summer. For this reason people of means haveliked this city since the 14 Century. It is therefore not a surprise that the various kings ofPortugal built their summer palaces in Sintra. Today it is an often visited tourist spot due tothe beauty of the various palaces built there as well the scenic vegetation on the hillsides. Thefirst palace you see when you arrive in Sintra is the National Palace. This palace was built inthe 14th century and can easily be recognized as it has two big “white towers” which are infact its kitchen's chimneys. Inside the place, you appreciate the beautiful decorations of thevarious rooms, especially the ceilings and the azulejos on the walls. The coat of arms room isvery impressive as the ceiling is decorated with 72 blazons. Needless to say, the familieswhose coats of arms are represented on the ceiling are very proud today. The Pena Palace is the most impressive place in Sintra. Some people do not like it they aresaying it looks more like a Disney castle because of the many towers in different colors. It islocated in a beautiful park of around 200 hectares, which are open to the public. The palace islocated on the highest point from where you can see the city of Lisbon, the 25 of April Bridge,as well as the Atlantic Ocean. Construction began in the 19 century and it is composed ofvarious sections in different architectural styles. Amongst the various parts of the buildingopen to the public is a room dedicated to the latest invention of that time, the telephone. Ifyou happen to be in Lisbon and have some spare time, then a visit to Sintra is time well spent.If you go by train you will avoid the hassle of parking the car.