A fascinating "fun fact" about Sintra, Portugal, is that it was once believed to be the "Literal Edge of the World." This belief stems from its proximity to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, located just a short drive from the town's fairytale palaces. Another surprising fact is that the lush, "ancient" forests surrounding the palaces are actually man-made. In the 19th century, King Ferdinand II (who built the colorful Pena Palace) transformed the barren hills into a romantic park by planting thousands of trees from all over the world, including North American sequoias and Chinese gingkos, to create a wild, "mystical" atmosphere. Furthermore, Sintra has a "Natural Fridge" or ice pit built into the mountain; before electricity, snow and ice were gathered from the hills in winter and stored in deep underground chambers, then transported to Lisbon during the summer to cool drinks for the royal court. Today, the town remains a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous not just for its architecture but for its status as one of Europe's first centers of the Romantic movement in the 18th and 19th centuries.