Lisboa, the capital of Portugal since 1255, was conquered from the Moors by Portugal’s first king in 1147. It lies on the right bank of the Tagus river and in a region that offers a rich landscape diversity. The imposing Tagus river (Tejo) flows alongside Lisboa from east to west. Its source lies in Spain, but a good part of its journey to the sea lies inside Portuguese frontiers before it meets the Atlantic Ocean. As it approaches Lisboa, the river bed widens to create a green and fertile plain called the lezíria. The effect as it nears the capital is to grace the landscape with its broad blue estuary. The special beauty of the riverbank enriches a number of towns past which the Tagus makes its way: Abrantes, Constância, Vila Nova da Barquinha and Santarém. The whole green river valley is like a stage setting upon which deeply-rooted cultural traditions are enacted. There is popular music and dance, and the traditional costume worn by the horsemen still seen rounding up their cattle in rural pastures is a real feature. Not far from the capital lies the town of Sintra, with its marvelous surrounding vegetation and landscape, Sintra is classified by Unesco as of outstanding cultural importance. There is no better way to see the exuberant trees and vegetation than to take a horse-drawn carriage ride and pass by ancient mansions before reaching the Palácio da Pena at the top of the hill. Its fabulous romantic architecture keeps vivid the atmosphere of a truly royal residence.