The Unfinished Well

》Another curiosity in the Quinta da Regaleira is that there are not one but two of these wells. The labyrinth running below the estate from the Poço Iniciático is also connected to the unfinished tower of the Poço Imperfeito (the Unfinished Well). Although the Poço Iniciático sees more people taking selfies these days than Templar Masonic initiates, the Poço Imperfeito remains hidden and mostly unknown by many visitors. You can see the tower structure here and even ascend the levels, but it’s rougher. No finely carved columns or intricate Templar symbolism here, but it feels like something more prehistoric or ancient.

Perhaps this second well was meant to resemble the Poço Iniciático and would have been included in the initiation – maybe to represent descending into hell and up in heaven à la Dante or to represent rebirth into the light – but it was never finished so we may never know.Read more