This Portuguese country house – perched on a hill in the Torre Novas area and featuring turrets and traceried parapets – looks like it is lifted from the pages of a fairytale.

Quinta do Marquês was transformed from a 19th-century-style chalet into its current whimsical form in the early 20th century by its owners, the Counts Foz. They restyled the building in neo-Manueline and neo-gothic styles and added two 16th-century Manueline windows as part of their update.

The first two floors of the 20-bedroom Portuguese property have 30 themed rooms, decked out with traditional azulejos, marble and bronze fireplaces and coffered wooden ceilings with floral paintings.

The Santarem house and its formal gardens – on sale with Portugal Sotheby’s International Realty with price on request – sit above the surrounding land, affording it long views across pastureland.

Frescoed French Riviera apartment lists for €1.38m