In Xanadu did Kubla Khan, A stately pleasure-dome decree ...

We revisited Sintra this summer, Northern Man, Big Girl, Youngest Child and myself.  Only Son stayed at home to cat-sit and plant-water.  Sintra is a left over from the days when Portugal had royalty who didn't like to get too hot in summer and headed for the nearest hills to cool off followed, only naturally, by anyone else with money or a title.  The result is a town filled with castles, palaces and villas some of which are open to gawpers and many of which are now very nice hotels or private homes.

My favourite is Qunita da Regaleira located just up the hill from the town centre where there are an abundance of follies and fantasy buildings set on a wooded hillside.  Trying to describe it would be impossible so here are the photos ......

Then there's the house itself ....

And inside ....

There is also a Moorish castle perched high on a hill above the town.  It is built around the huge boulders that litter the site ....

That's the royal palace seen from the castle.  The things that look like oast houses sticking out from the top are actually chimneys.
On the neighbouring hilltop is the Pena Palace. Again, words fail me ...

I wasn't allowed to take any photos inside Pena but it is beautifully furnished.

A short way away from Sintra is Monserrate where parts of the gardens have been maturing for several hundred years.  When we last visited the house was not open but it is now being restored and is a joy.  I cannot show you photos as I stupidly forgot the camera.

I hope your summer holidays were as filled with lovely memories as mine.