The Sintra National Palace is the finest royal palace of the Middle Ages, a favorite of the Portuguese nobles, and has been preserved to this day, its simple Gothic exterior hides the wonders of ornate rooms, and its most notable external feature are the two enormous chimneys that emerge from the kitchens and which have become an icon for Sintra. Located in the historic city centre, the palace has been inhabited for nearly eight centuries by the Portuguese monarchy and its court, and was frequently used as a hunting lodge, as a refuge from disease outbreaks in the capital, and as a summer resort.