Tailor Made Portugal: Inspiring Iberia

Portugal is for explorers. Its valiant seamen first charted the Azores, discovered Japan, and unlocked the major sea routes the world over. Now you can share the anticipation they must have felt as you explore this exciting city.

You’ll discover an 8th-century Moorish castle, quaint cafes and a palm-studded coastline. The Alfama district is a maze of narrow, twisting streets, whitewashed houses, flowered balconies, archways, terraces and courtyards that charm your socks off. (And if you can find your way out of this dizzying array, 20th-century Lisbon is just as intoxicating.)

Of course, if you’d rather play by the sea, the Portuguese Riviera lies just outside town, offering something for everyone, from sun, sand and surf to thrilling casinos. Lisbon is a vast garden abounding with flowers and tropical plants. The city’s appeal lies in the magnificent vistas from its many belvederes and in the tree-lined avenues and squares decorated with mosaic pavements.

In the province of Estremadura, the Serra of Sintra, a narrow chain which is rich with vegetation and topped with granite peaks, extends between Lisbon and the Atlantic coast. At the foot of the Serra and on its north flank, the city of Sintra enjoys an exceptional climate.

In the mountain as in the city, the architecture, the gardens and parks, and the natural surroundings or Sintra make up a harmonious ensemble. The urban square adjacent to the Royal Palace provided the basis of the network of narrow and narrow irregular streets sprinkled with smaller squares.