Autumn is one of the most beautiful and pleasant times of year to visit Lisboa.

During this season the evening light is mirrored on the river whilst the city is bathed in a golden hue and the sweet smell of roasted chestnuts create a captivating and seductive atmosphere, inviting visitors to let their imaginations wander and enjoy a stroll of Lisboa from bygone eras, with its romantic and elegant palaces.

In Alto da Ajuda lies one of the most perfect romantic buildings of the 19th century in Europe: Ajuda Palace. Once a royal residence, the façade of this neoclassical style palace contrasts with its cozy interior. Inside there are luxurious rooms covered with silk, adorned with porcelain and lit by crystal chandeliers. Within this environment visitors can easily imagine the lavish parties and galas that were held here. Also worth admiring are the music, dance and ambassadors' halls as well as the impressive throne room and dining room. Similarly noteworthy is the collection of Portuguese and European sculpture and paintings that are an important part of the Palace's collection, one of the most important decorative arts museums in Portugal.

A few kilometers from Lisboa, en route to Sintra, Queluz Palace is a magnificent 18th century Royal building that transports visitors to the Baroque court era, and in whose sumptuous gardens nobles and ladies once paraded in wigs and lavish costumes, exchanging secrets and vows of love. Often compared to the palace of Versailles, this palace is nevertheless a very Portuguese construction, both in its scale and unique artistic spirit. Set within a sixteen hectare site, its gardens still reveal today all its beauty and charm, offering visitors a complete mythological journey of discovery. The elaborate decorations of the lakes and fountains as well as the tile coated canal are true works of art.

Sintra is the legendary paradise of the romantics, offering a perfect fairy tale setting. The most beautiful examples of the region's palaces and manor houses dot the hillside, including Sintra National Palace and Pena Palace. A Royal residence and leading stage for more than eight centuries of Portuguese history, Sintra National Palace is located in the town centre and is the only surviving example of medieval Portuguese kings' courts. Internationally recognized by the distinctive profile of the two monumental conical chimneys of its kitchens, inside it houses a unique collection of Hispano-Moorish tiles and decorative arts collections from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Sintra hills, Pena Palace is considered by many to the jewel in the crown of the 19th century Portuguese romantic style. Inspired by the castles of Bavaria, it was the consort of Queen D. Maria II, D. Fernando II of Saxe Coburg-Gotha who was its mentor, with this palace becoming the favourite residence of the Portuguese royal family. With its fanciful and fascinating architecture, adorned in Moorish, Gothic and Manueline motifs, as well as its mythical Sintra setting, this Palace is the ideal stage to live a fairy tale, in the comfort and luxury of its interiors. Here in its intimate setting, you can admire the beautiful stucco work, "trompe-l'oeil" murals and tile panels that form part of the numerous royal collections in a setting where a taste for collecting and bric-à-brac are noteworthy.