Sintra: this impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site, just thirty minutes out of Lisbon by road or rail, features a royal palace used prior to the revolution of 1910, along with the remains of a Moorish Castle used when these North African invaders took over the area. The 19th century Pena Palace, a colourful structure on a grand scale, is one of the highlights here. Walking this hilly area can be hard work when trying to take in all the sites here. When the going gets tough, buses are available. Azeitao: located between the coast and Arrabida Nature Park, this collection of villages are well worth a day trip. The park itself is worth a visit for the scenic views and abundant plant life as well as the Convent of Arrabida. The two main villages in this area are Vila Fresca de Azeitao and Vila Nogueira de Azeitao, the latter featuring a number of excellent wineries along with old ecclesiastical buildings. Setubal: with buses and trains leaving approximately every hour from Lisbon, it is very easy to get here. The downtown area of the city around Avenida Luisa Tody makes for an interesting place for a walk with its fish market in the mornings and impressive theatre. Unfortunately, shows are only in Portuguese. The food here is typically seafood based and generally cheaper than in Lisbon and there is even a Japanese sushi restaurant here if you’re looking for a break from the local food. The Rainha Leonor Museum, which is housed inside a 15th century Gothic convent houses a beautiful chapel along with a collection of Portuguese, Spanish and Flemish from between the 15th and 18th centuries. Beja is most famous for the five love letters of Marianna Alcoforado, a nun that lived in the town in the 17th century. Upon seeing a French officer outside her convent, she wrote five letters that were translated into French and did the rounds of Europe, causing a sensation and intense interest throughout the 1600s. A play based on the event, called Cartas, has been performed as recently as this century. She lived in the convent which is now the Rainha Leonor Museum. | 
