#22 Portugal

Portugal is another fun Mediterranean country. It's one of the "poor four" countries in the old EU. Lisbon has the air of an old capital of an empire. Unlike Spain, it's still in the doldrums economically. This gives the city a wonderful air of decay, which is charming.

An hour by train outside Lisbon is Sintra. It served as the summer capital for the royal family. It's jammed with old royal buildings, forts and palaces. The royal palace is great. At the start of the republican revolution, the royal family just packed up and left. The palace is exactly as they left it. Very atmospheric.