Sintra - Castelo dos Mouros

From the south side of the town a road forks right and snakes uphill, with many hairpin bends, first through magnificent gardens and then parklike woodland. After about 3km/2mi a side road branches off to the left to the Moorish castle, the Castelo dos Mouros (alt. 429m/1,408ft). Ramparts and towers are still standing from the castle, which was originally built in the eighth or ninth C., recaptured in 1147 by Afonso Henriques and subsequently much altered. There is a splendid view of Sintra from the Torre Real. The inner courtyard has trees planted in the mid 19th C. for Ferdinand von Coburg-Koháry, consort of Queen Maria II.