Quinta da Regaleira

Today I rented a scooter to drive to Sintra during my lunch break. This is possible because the lunch break is an "extended lunch break". It starts at 12:30 and ends at 6 p.m. To compensate that the conference is extended until after 10 p.m.

This meant I could drive to Rivendell on the scooter. Rivendell? Yes, you read that right. This area catapulted me straight to Middle Earth with all the underground labyrinths, grottos, towers, battlements, fountains, waterfalls and endless enchanted corners.

Of course the place is not called Rivendell but Quinta da Regaleira but have a look yourself.

So Quinta da Regaleira is an estate located near the historic centre of Sintra. It is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO within the "Cultural Landscape of Sintra". Along with the other palaces in the area such as the Quinta do Relógio, Pena, Monserrate and Seteais palaces, it is considered one of the principal tourist attractions of Sintra.

The property consists of a Romantic palace and chapel, and a luxurious park that features lakes, grottoes, wells, benches, fountains, and a vast array of exquisite constructions. The palace is also known as "The Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire", which is based on the nickname of its best known former owner, António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. The palace was designed by the Italian architect Luigi Manini.Read more