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Casa Batló is a modernist building designed by Antonio Gaudi and built in the beginning of the 20th century. It's themed around a calm sea- looking through some of the windows gives you the sensation of being underwater- but some features, like the mushroom fireplace or the representation of the backbone of the dragon, slain by St. George, topping the building, don't quite follow the theme. Gaudi's planning was well ahead of his time, as the building addresses sustainability issues, like energy saving and recycling of materials. Gaudi also planned his buildings to the smallest detail, including furniture, handrails, door knobs and, of course, the famous tiles.  Opening hours : 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day. Entrance fee (standard) : €22.5 How to go: Passeig de Gracia metro station.

The first construction on this hilltop dates back to the reign of King John II (15th century) and it was a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena. In the 16th century, King Manuel I, paying a promise, ordered the construction of a Monastery. In the 18th century, the Monastery was severely damaged, first by lightning and then by the Great Earthquake of 1755. In 1838 King consort Ferdinand II bought the ruins of the Monastery (along with the surrounding terrains and the Castle of the Moors) and decided to build the romanticist Palace of Pena. This Palace became the Summer residence of the Portuguese Royal Family until 1910 when the Portuguese Republic was established. Opening hours : 9h45 a.m. to 7 p.m. Entrance Fee (standard) : €14 (includes the park) How to go, from Lisbon:   You can go from Lisbon to Sintra, for a day trip, by train, departing either from Restauradores or Oriente Stations. At the vending machines buy the "Cartão Lisboa Viva" and charge it with €5,...

The Synagogue of Tomar is the oldest fully preserved synagogue in Portugal, as most synagogues were in some way destroyed following the expulsion and forced conversion of Portuguese Jews, starting in the reign of King Manuel I. The synagogue was built between 1430 and 1460 and closed by order of King Manuel I in 1496. It had several uses during the centuries after that- prison, Christian Chapel, warehouse- until it was classified as a national monument in 1921, following the visit by a group of archaeologists. In 1923 it was bought by Polish engineer Samuel Schwarz, who had it restored and later donated it to the Portuguese government with the condition it would be turned into a museum. In return, he and his wife were granted Portuguese citizenship which protected them during Second World War. The synagogue houses a small museum. Its acoustic is enhanced by eight clay jugs within the walls. Opening hours : Tuesday to Sunday, 10h to 12h // 14h to 18h (19h ...

Villa Giulia was built by order of Pope Julius III, after whom it was named, between 1551 and 1553. In 1870 it became the property of the Kingdom of Italy and has been a museum since 1889. The museum houses all pre-roman antiquities of Latium, southern Etruria and Umbria, belonging to the Etruscan and Faliscan civilisations. The highlight of the museum is the Sarcophagus of the Spouses, a late 6th century BC Etruscan sarcophagus made of terracotta, depicting a couple reclining at a banquet together in the afterlife. Opening hours : Tue.-Sun. 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Ticket (standard): €8 How to get there : Metro Station Flaminio, Line A

The Cathedral of the Incarnation of Granada, as it is also known, is a 16th-century monument, built under Charles V and is one of the masterpieces of Renaissance architecture in Spain. It was built at a time when renaissance design was supplanting the previously dominant Gothic style and, furthermore, Granada was, at the time, a cultural centre independent from the rest of the kingdom, which contributed to its unique renaissance features. The royal chapel is the resting place of Fernando and Isabel, the kings that conquered Granada. Opening Hours: March - August:  Mon - Sat: 10:45-13:30, 16:00-20:00 h  Sundays and Holidays: 16:00-20:00 h  September - February:   Mon - Sat: 10:45-13:30, 16:00-19:00 h  Sundays and Holidays: 16:00-19:00 h  Entrance fee (standard): €4

The Luxembourg gardens were created upon the initiative of Queen Marie de Medici, in 1612, who wanted to recreate the Pitti Palace and gardens of her native Florence. The original garden was just eight hectares in size. The park, albeit being enlarged, was neglected by later monarchs and it was only in the 19th century that it was largely restored, becoming also home for over  100 sculptures, including many sculptures of historical figures. The park currently covers 23 hectares. Opening hours depend on the month, from 7 a.m.// 8 a.m. to 1 hour before sunset. Entrance free .