b'rediscovering travelSintra, PortugalFairytale castles and lush woods and gardens make Sintra, in the cool Serra de Sintra hills, one of Europes most charming towns. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is just 40 minutes by train from Lisbon. One of its most iconic palaces is Pena Palace, erected on the ruins of a medieval monastery. Built atop a hill in a mixture of architectural styles, including Baroque, Moorish, and Renaissance, the vibrantly colored palace was a summer home for 19th-century royalty.Sintra has numerous other palaces to explore. At the center of town is the Sintra National Palace, one of Portugals oldest and best-preserved medieval palaces. Quinta da Regaleira is another stunner, surrounded by fabulous gardens, a maze of paths, fountains, grottos, ponds, and a spiral staircase (or initiation well) leading down to a tunnel.MIDAER KC RLAEDWISTON/UNSPLASH S10 \x1a BE ENCHANTED'