By the time Manuel I ruled, in the sixteenth century, the royal family's presence in Sintra was such a constant that several members of the nobility followed suit. Numerous villas were constructed near the Palace. The Villa of Penha Verde is one such example. Built by D. João de Castro, Governor of the West Indies, this was where artistic minds gathered to discuss and perform their art in true Renaissance fashion. Experiments, such as ripping all fruit trees and letting the vegetation run wild were also noted. The affluence of the nobility, however, created new challenges for the locals. Bands of bored aristocratic young men were said to raid orchards, stealing apples and other goods, leading to growing resentment from the local population, so much so that Manuel I had to make many concessions for their safety. It is worth mentioning, however, that, when John III did not visit Sintra for five years, the city's councillor wrote to the king, worried that he had stayed away for too long...