CCE - Centro de Congressos do Estoril

A 5 minutes drive from Estoril is Cascais. Cascais itself was a former fishing village, occupied since at least Roman times. Since the Middle Ages, the region lived from fishing, maritime commerce (it was a stop for ships sailing to Lisbon). Due to its location close to the Tagus estuary, it was also seen as a strategic post in the defense of Lisbon. The former fishing village gained fame as a resort for Portugal's royal family in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Due to the vision of Fausto Cardoso de Figueiredo the region became an international tourist destination both during and after the Second World War. During this time a high number of dignitaries in exile ( Miklos Horthy - regent of Hungary, Juan Carlos I of Spain, Umberto II of Italy and Carol II of Romania) came to the region and became a popular resort favored by European nobility and kings.

A 20 minutes drive from Estoril is Lisbon, the Portugal's capital. Legend has it that Lisbon was founded by Ulysses. The name comes from “Olissipo”, which has its origins in the Phoenician words “Allis Ubbo”, meaning “enchanting port”. Most likely it was founded by the Phoenicians and styled by the Moors which shows in the strong Arabic influences. It was, after all, ruled by the Moors for 450 years. In the 12th century the Christians re conquered the city but it was not until the mid-13th century that Lisboa became the country’s capital. With the beginning of the Portuguese Age of Discoveries, Lisboa enriched as a spice and jewellery trade centre. The breakthrough for Portuguese expansion came in 1498 when Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route to India. This was indeed the beginning of a golden age, characterised by the Manueline architectural style named after King Manuel I, with its typical decorative use of maritime motifs. Over the centuries Lisboa naturally grew and changed. When the city centre was almost completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1755, it was rebuilt by Marquise de Pombal, who thus created the Baixa Pombalina, a commercial area that still retains much of its original lay out. Lisboa is a historic capital, a potpourri of unusual character and charm, where 800 years of cultural influences mingle with modern trends and life styles creating spectacular contrasts.

A 15 minutes drive from Estoril is Sintra. The perfect symbiosis between nature and its built heritage led to its classification by UNESCO as World Heritage, at the category of Cultural Landscape, in 1995. The town has been adored over the years by artists and writers from all over the world and the passion for the town reached its peak in the 19th century, in the heart of the romantic era. What makes Sintra such an exceptional place? It is exuberant in all senses of the word. Essentially, it is the perfect fusion between natural richness and the magnificence of its monuments, combined in an extreme beauty. To walk through the centre of the town is to travel through a magical world, full of extremely rich apparently insignificant details. All this surrounded and watched over by the grandeur of the Serra de Sintra, with its luxurious , which offers endless different walks. Sintra has unique examples of parks and gardens and has influenced many European landscapes. Highlights are the Parque da Pena and the Jardins de Monserrate. High in the Serra, on one of its steep peaks, we can find the Palácio da Pena, the most complete and notable example of Portuguese Romantic architecture, recently restored and painted in the original colours and standing out among the surrounding greenery. Built on the site of the ruins of the Mosteiro Jerónimo de Nossa Senhora da Pena, the palace dates back to 1839. The monuments that are part of the area classified by UNESCO are numerous and all deserve to be visited.

It's the largest casino in Europe. During World War II, it was reputed to be a gathering spot for espionage agents, dispossessed royals, and wartime adventurers. It was the inspiration for Ian Fleming's 007 novel Casino Royale.