Rustic castle and palace in Lisbon and Obidos, Portugal

The street entrance to the Pestana Palace.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

Casa do Lago, an Asian pavilion that houses a bar and restaurant, overlooks the outdoor pool at the Pestana Palace.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

A modern sculpture on the grounds of the Pestana Palace.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

A brunch table at the Pestana Palace.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

A room at the Pestana Palace.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

The “Japanese Room” at the Pestana Palace.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

One of the public rooms at the Pestana Palace.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

Looking out over the whitewashed, red-tiled homes and businesses of Obidos, a walled medieval village about an hour north of Lisbon.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

The Pousada de Castelo is a hotel set within Obidos Castle.   (Jose Antonio Moreno / Getty Images)

A glimpse of what lies beyond the wall in the town of Obidos.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

A view from a hotel room at the Pousada de Castelo; a guest can step out a set of double doors at the end of a hall and be on the wall that surrounds the village.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

The simple and comfortable hotel room at the Pousada de Castelo.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

The classic arched entrance.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

The cobblestone streets of Obidos are lined with restaurants, liquor and souvenir stores, and a number of businesses that sell beautiful pottery.  (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)

Ginja, a cherry liqueur, is often offered and consumed in chocolate cups in Obidos.   (Alice Short / Los Angeles Times)