A mere half hour from Lisbon by car, the Penha Longa Hotel & Golf Resort provides a glorious refuge from the stresses and strains of city life. Adored by golfers, the five-star luxury complex features two courses and is set in 220 hectares of stunning national parkland in the Sintra hills, while its 18-hole Atlântico championship course is rightly considered one of Europe’s most beautiful and has welcomed presidents and princes from around the world. A total of 25 million dollars was spent restoring, renovating and carefully extending this exceptional resort, which is managed by the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

Its 150 rooms and 44 suites are the last word in comfort and elegance, while there is a wealth of gastronomic options on offer. The assaMassa showcases the very best of modern Portuguese cuisine, while the Midori forms the culinary highlight of any visit, its wonderfully fresh sushi and sashimi attracting diners from across Europe.

The complex also features a restaurant by the pool, a tea lounge and two bar areas. The history of Penha Longa (long cliffs) is closely bound with that of Portugal. A young monk established the Order of Saint Jerome here in 1355 and built a church and monastery on the site, which then served as the Portuguese royal family’s summer residence during the 15th and 16th centuries.

After being partly destroyed in a violent earthquake in 1755, the church and monastery were rebuilt, before later being deconsecrated. Today, the historic buildings are home to several event rooms and regularly play host to weddings and conferences, while the Six Senses Spa offers indoor and outdoor relaxation and is found in one of the monastery’s side wings. One of the Asian-styled spa’s most popular features is the Beauty Suite, which has room for up to six people.

Penha Longa Hotel Spa & Golf Resort

Estrada da Lagoa Azul, Linhó
2714–511, Sintra, Portugal

Tel: +351–219249011; Fax: +351–219249007

For further information: www.penhalonga.com and www.ritzcarlton.com