Palácio Hotel do Bussaco

This 5-star hotel is like something out of a fairytale castle. It stands in the middle of a magnificent park, both striking and beautiful. You can drive there (€7) or walk the approximately 1km (free). On the way to the castle, you'll find beautiful grottos and fountains, before the castle itself appears around the final left turn. You can walk all the way around the building and admire the landscaped garden; unfortunately, the arsonist has done a great job on the boxwood bushes. The decorations and the many azulejos are beautiful. Maintenance is certainly expensive; the decay is evident.

The Buçaco Palace, located in Portugal's Buçaco mountain range, is a former Carmelite convent transformed into a luxury hotel. Established in 1628, the convent featured a garden symbolizing Mount Carmel and the Earthly Paradise. After the monks left in 1834, plans emerged to convert the site into a royal residence for Queen Maria Pia, but political challenges led to its development as a luxury hotel. (Re)constructed between 1888 and 1907, the palace showcases a Neo-Manueline architectural style, reminiscent of Portugal's Age of Discovery landmarks like the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower. Today, it stands as a national monument and is a great place to explore both a luxury hotel and a historic building.