Lisbon is the second oldest European capital and has been the capital of Portugal since 1255. Known as a town of seven hills, the windy, steep streets give way to stunning viewpoints around the city. The Palacio Principe Real was built in 1877 and the home of the Teixeira da Mota family. Having fallen into disrepair, the property was purchased by an English couple in 2014 with the vision to restore the property to the decadent luxury of days gone by. Located in the Principe Real neighborhood it hides discretely behind an ornate green door. Upon entering, a beautiful oasis of a garden awaits, feeling far away from the bustle of the city. The property was absolutely stunning blending the history and original architecture with modern decor and amenities. It was a beautiful way to begin and end each day while we were in Lisbon. São Jorge Castle dates back to the 2nd century BC and has been fortified since the 8th century BC. It was occupied successively by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors, before its conquest by the Portuguese in the 1147 Siege of Lisbon. It served as a royal palace, was heavily damaged in the 1755 earthquake, and was extensively restored in the 1940s. Pastéis de Belém originated before 1837 in Lisbon’s Jeronimos Monastery where monks used leftover egg yolks from starching clothes to create the custard tarts. Following the 1834 liberal revolution and monastery closures, the secret recipe was sold to a nearby sugar refinery owner, leading to the creation of the famous bakery which sells over 20,000 tarts daily. While pastel de nata refers to the common custard tart found throughout Portugal, Pastéis de Belém is the trademarked name for the original product made only at this historic location. During our week in Portugal we had our fair share of pastel de natas and while they were delicious, none compared to the Pastéis de Belém.