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Nestled amongst the hills of the Grand Lisboa region of Portugal is the picturesque city of Sintra. Famed for its fairytale castles and inspiring architecture, for the last 51 years the city has also hosted the Sintra Festival. This month-long event brings together major names in chamber music and ballet from around the world. In recent years, the festival has witnessed performances by the Soprano Ann Murray and dance companies such as the Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve, the Spanish Compania Nacional de Damza and the Scottish Dance Theatre.

The concerts are held in the open air at a number of spectacular local churches and castles, many of which are normally off-limits to the public. The most striking of these is the ornate royal palace, which was the summer residence for the kings of Portugal from the 15th to the 19th centuries and is the best preserved medieval palace in the country.

If you aren't a fan of classical music then you'll be pleased to know that the city's vantage point on top of a row of hills provides spectacular views down to the valleys below. The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its beautiful 19th century Romantic architecture, and is certainly worth a visit in its own right. In fact, in 1809, Lord Byron took the time to write 'I must just observe that the village of Cintra in Estremadura is the most beautiful in the world'. Attractions in the city include the ruins of a 9th century Moorish castle and the Hieronymite monastery on the nearby hills, designed by the renowned architect Diogo Boitac in 1507. The city can also lay claim to being the site of the signing of the Convention of Sintra in 1808, which ended the first French invasion of Portugal.

The Sintra Festival is a perfect chance to combine a taste for history with the performing arts, all set within truly breathtaking surroundings. You can also have the pleasure of discovering a small corner of mainland Europe that is often overlooked by international tourists. The festival lasts from May 28th to July 4th so you've still got plenty of time to book your flights to Portugal if you want to visit the festival next year.