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Quinta da Regaleira

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    • TravelerEuro trip
      2111
      Day 6

      Sintra

      March 27 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

      We finally made it to Sintra today after a few days of thinking about it. I knew Sintra was going to be beautiful, and it still blew my expectations out of the water. To get there we had to take a bus to a train station then buy a pass for the train. The pass worked great at the first station, and then we got to Sintra. we tried scanning our pass to get through the gates and it denied both of us. Even a local couldn't figure it out. He then tried to run behind someone who scanned their card, but the gates slammed in his face and completely bodied him. I laughed so hard in his face, true comedy. We couldn't figure it out either, so we just jumped over a wall to get out lol. We had to hop on another bus, which took us up to Quinta Da Regaleria, where a mansion is built on the side of a mountain on 4 hectares of space. There's so much to see there's no way we didn't miss something even though we spent 5 hours there. We explored caves and tunnels as well as just walking through the garden. Pearse and I made a few "skits" we think are funny. It's so hard to only pick 2 videos for the posts, though. We're off to Porto tomorrow now, so I'd say it was the perfect way to spend the last day in Lisbon.Read more

    • TravelerEuro Quest
      121
      Day 12

      Day Twelve: Sintra

      March 27 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

      Today, I managed to get a pretty good sleep. But these hostel beds get so hot I was sweating all morning. And to top it off, I woke up with a sore throat. A pretty bad one, too. It felt like knives when I swallowed. But that's OK. We power through. Decided to take public transportation to get to Sintra. It was quite the experience. It was so confusing to actually buy the ticket. Luckily, someone helped us buy it. When we finally got to Sintra, it was pouring rain and super windy. And too made it better our ticket wasn't working and we couldn't leave the train station. We walked around trying to get help and ended up having to jump a fence to get out. But when we finally made it, it was amazing walking into the garden, field, or whatever you would call it, and the rain really did make everything greener. This "castle" was on a hillside with a whole bunch of random ruins, buildings, and paths. We got to walk around in the forest around random walls and get a great view of the valley. There was even this well that went down into the ground. A lot of the descriptions they had around didn't make a lot of sense to me, but this well seemed to be made as an analogy for something. It was about the decent to hell and the light of heaven or something. But there were also some underground paths that were completely dark. You needed a flashlight to get around. It was so spooky and so fun to joke around with ethan in it. There was also the main mansion when the owners lived. It was extravagant and completely over the top, someone who really needed to flex his wealth. It was beautiful, though, for sure. Someplace I couldn't imagine living in. They had a separate pool room and a separate smoking/games room. There were some many different places nestled here that gave us a taste of different architectural styles and so much more. On the way back, we found yet another rooftop bar over looking an even crazier view! But we were both so tired. We crawled our way back home and went to bed early!Read more

    • Nic, Jess, Sam et FélixPortugal et Espagne
      51
      Day 19

      Au pays des Palais à Sintra

      September 28, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      Nous n'étions pas vraiment censés rester une nuit de plus ici à Sintra. Mais nous avons tellement adoré et voulions tellement voir d'autres palais... Mais ce n'est clairement pas pour la facilité de conduite que tu veux rester ici !!! Lolll

      Pour commencer, nous avons visité Monserrat, un palais d'un style plutôt arabe avec plusieurs jardins et d'une luxuriante végétation. C'est vraiment beau. Il y a un couloir en plein centre du palais orné de plusieurs arches. Il y a du travail là-dedans! Pour arriver là, c'était assez simple en appelant un Uber à 5 euros pour 15 minutes. Vraiment pas très cher. Mais au moment de repartir pour aller dîner, oh surprise, plus de chauffeur disponible! Il arrive un Jeep qui dépose quelques touristes. Notre lueur d'espoir est là. Nico va lui demander s'il peut nous déposer. Il acquiesce, ça lui fait un grand plaisir. Il est en attente des touristes qu'il vient de déposer.

      C'est une vraie jungle dans ce coin-là. Et là sérieusement, on se dit: mais une chance que nous ne sommes pas venus en campervan. La voie simple est dans les deux sens. Elle est extrêmement sinueuse et étroite. On fait plusieurs face-à-face avec d'autres voitures... On ne sait pas comment ils font parce que sa voiture passe à 2 cm du bord de la roche à droite et 5 cm à gauche de l'autre véhicule qu'il croise. On a oublié de faire un vidéo, mais tabourette, c'est intense! Il nous dépose donc à notre hôtel château! Alelouya, on n’aurait pas fait la route à pied non plus dans de telles conditions et en pente montante non plus!!

      L'hôtel est vraiment majestueux! On en paie aussi le prix pour un dîner !! Car c'est quasiment d'être dans un château. On voit aussi qu'il y a eu plusieurs vedettes qui y sont passées, dont Bono, Roger Moore, Edith Piaf, Richard Nixon et j'en passe.

      Par la suite, nous avons visité le palais de Regaleira. Wow! Il y a des grottes sublimes. Le propriétaire de l'époque avait voulu creuser des canalisations pour rendre l'eau à une fontaine. On se fait un réel plaisir de passer au travers et faire la découverte.

      Il est déjà 16h00, mais... pourquoi pas faire le château des Maures. Volet informatif:

      "Les ruines du Castelo dos Mouros dominent les hauteurs de Sintra. Elles sont celles d’un ancien château qui, pendant l’époque des Maures (du VIIIe eu XIIe siècle), défendait toute la région.

      Comme le château a été construit sur un affleurement rocheux, il offrait aux Maures une position privilégiée et des vues stratégiques sur le littoral ainsi que sur les terres des environs. En 1147, les croisés chrétiens ont pris le château d’assaut et ont fini par l’abandonner pour le laisser à l’état de ruines, complètement recouvert par les denses forêts qui poussent dans les collines de la Serra de Sintra.

      Le cadre naturel et serein des ruines du château a séduit le roi Ferdinand II (1816 – 1885) et l’a conduit à partiellement restaurer ses remparts et à le transformer en la pièce maîtresse du domaine de son incroyable palais de Pena."

      C'est donc avec ce dernier palais que nous terminons notre journée. Du haut des remparts, oufff, le vent y est assez présent ! On doit faire extrêmement attention. Sam tient ma main tout le long. Pas le choix! Il n'y a pas de gardes vraiment! Mais c'est impressionnant. Nous avons une vue sublime sur Sintra et ses environs.

      Ensuite, souper dans la ville et retour au calme dans notre campervan. :)      Read more

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    • Europe 2022 - 2023
      11111112
      Day 282

      Sintra, Portugal

      February 14, 2023 in Portugal

      We're back at it! After returning back to the USA for the holidays and to wait out the winter, we've returned to Europe. We're starting off this leg back where we left off, in the Iberian Peninsula. We flew into Lisbon and traveled to our first stop in Sintra, about 40 minutes west. This time we also have Emily's father John with us for a few weeks.

      Sintra is said by many both past and present to be the most beautiful place in Portugal. It's very easy to see why. Romantic elegance of the old town cobbled streets that meet and disappear into the natural beauty of the forrests,, national parks, and mountains. Sintra is a magical place that boasts grand palaces and castles within walking distance. We were fortunate enough to visit Quinta de Regaleira, Castelo dos Muros, and the palace of Monserrate. They were all outstanding with the later being perhaps our favorite due to its elaborate gardens with plants from across the globe. Just 30km from Lisbon Sintra swept us back in time and had such a storybook feel it was hard not to adore this town. Just beware of the hills and bring good walking shoes!

      While Sintra has evidence of early human settlement from the Paleolithic era and has been occupied by the Romans, it's the Moorish occupation that feels most prominent. As already stated, we visited Castelo dos Muros which was built between the 8th and 9th centuries. While a fortress, it's primary function was that of a lookout point for the surrounding area and the bay leading to Lisbon. The Moors remained in this area until driven out by the first king of Portugal, Alfonzo V, drove them out in 1147.

      Quinta da Regaleira was a private residence. The construction as it is seen today began in 1904. It is rumored to have connections to the Knights Templar and their initiation well.      Read more

    • skip's retirement travelIberia
      Day 29

      Quinta de Regaleira

      May 22, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

      The term quinta often refers to a farm, but more accurately, it refers to an estate or rural property with an historic building such as a palace. That is what Quinta de Regaleira is.
      While the quinta has a longer history, what is here now dates to the very early 20th century. Carvalho Monteiro set out to build a place intended to befuddle visitors. His interest in the esoteric, from alchemy to Masonry, the Rosicrucians and more that is incorporated throughout does accomplish his goal.
      The 1st picture is the wildly decorative palace with its turrets, gargoyles and more. Most of the palace interior isn't open to visitors, but the 2nd picture is a sample of what is open. The 3rd picture looks over some of the extensive gardens on site. This was taken from a balcony at the palace.
      The 2nd building of significance is the chapel. It's style matches the palace. The interior could not be entered, but the door was open to look inside. That's the 4th picture. Notice all the symbols, including the all seeing eye in the ceiling.
      The 5th picture is the Regalería Tower that sits above Leda's Grotto. The site is laced with grottos, caves and tunnels. The ,6th picture is one of the grottoes. The 7th picture, if I recall correctly, is called the Guardians Entrance.
      Perhaps the best known feature here is the Initiation well. It has a 27 meter deep spiral staircase that descends 9 levels (as in Dante's Inferno) and connects to an email interconnected series of tunnels. I'm told the initiation was to be send initiates in blindfolded from the top of the stairs, and they had to find their way out. The 8th picture looks down the spiral stairs into the well. The 9th picture looks along one of the tunnels. And the 10th picture is a false exit. It's one of the tricks. I would fall for it and head for the sound of falling water.
      This is one intriguing place.      Read more

    • TravelerEurope 2019
      Day 28

      Sintra

      October 1, 2019 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      Today was our day trip to Sintra. We met our guide Nadia at Plaça Restauradores, outside the front of the Hard Rock Cafe (which is as close as we will get to it). Seems to be a popular meeting point. There were five of us on the tour, a lovely young couple, John Paul and Sammy from the US and Marci, an older lady from Brazil who doesn’t speak any English, and us. Nadia our guide was vivacious, passionate and full of life, and she is very knowledgeable about Sintra. On meeting her, we were given hugs and kisses, and were soon on our way out of Lisbon and on the road to Sintra. As we don’t speak Portuguese and Marci doesn’t speak English, Nadia had to chop and change between the languages, which she did without issue. She also pointed out various things to us on the way to Sintra, and we also started to get to know John Paul and Sammy. On arrival in Sintra, which is full of small winding and narrow streets, Nadia pointed out some of the important landmarks on our way to Quinta da Regaleira our first stop. This was the summer home of the wealthy industrialist António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, who engaged Luigi Manini, a talented scenographer and architect, to design this quite romantic and luxurious estate with wonderful gardens, grottos, caves and a most magnificent well.

      Nadia gave us some of the background to the estate, and then once she got us in, she left us to our own devices to explore the estate for the next 2 hours. On her advice, we made our way to the Poço Iniciático - Initiation Well - and it was magnificent. As it was early, the crowds weren’t too bad, and so we were able to explore the tunnels at the bottom of the well. From there we zig zagged across the estate discovering all types of wonderful little structures and gardens along the way. It was all beautifully designed, and paid homage to nature and the circle of life. The well was my favourite part of the estate, although the gardens ran a close second. This 19th Century estate is quite magical and fantastical in its design and a pleasure to explore.      Read more

    • TravelerSpain & Portugal 2023
      Day 10

      Palace Quinta da Regaleira - Chapel

      September 21, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

      》Templar Chapel

      This beautiful, delicate building, decorated with Manuelian floral motifs is the most elegant place of worship. The design contrasts elaborate patterning with simple white washed walls. Inside, the alter selectively uses gold leaf such that it enhances the beauty of the chapel, instead of overwhelming it with its overuse. If the walls of the chapel seem golden at times, it is because they have been hit by sunlight.

      This chapel is thoroughly fascinating. Although Christian in design, it shows how no religious belief is ever truly separate from all the others that have come before. Apart from the usual Catholic imagery and statues, the chapel also spotted pentagrams surrounding the Order of the Christ Cross and the symbol of the Free Masons on the ceiling of the doorway.      Read more

    • TravelerLissabon
      Day 3

      Quinta da Regaleira

      June 12, 2019 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

      Quinta da Regaleira ist ein Anwesen (portugiesisch quinta) in der Nähe des historischen Zentrums von Sintra in Portugal. Es zählt zum Weltkulturerbe der UNESCO. Es wurde nach Entwürfen des Besitzers António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro erbaut und 1910 fertig gestellt. Das Anwesen besteht aus einem Hauptgebäude bzw. Palast, einer Kapelle und einem großzügigen Park mit Seen, Grotten, Brunnen, Brücken, unterirdischen Tunnelsystemen und einem Tennisplatz.Read more

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    • TravelerLissabon
      Day 3

      Quinta da Regaleira Initiationsbrunnen

      June 12, 2019 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

      Es handelt sich um einen Scheinbrunnen, der offenbar für Initiationsriten im Kontext von Monteiros Interessen wie etwa Tarot oder Tempelritter vorgesehen war. Man findet am Boden des Brunnens also kein Wasser, dafür aber eine tolle Aussicht nach oben.Read more

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    • TravelerOlá em portugal agus Éire
      Day 5

      Quinta da Regaleira

      July 21, 2019 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      Nachdem der Küchendienst maulend den Frühstücksdienst beendet, sitzen wir 7 Menschen in Ulis Auto auf dem Weg zur Quinta da Regaleira, einem verwunschenem Schloss mit wunderschönem Garten hier in Sintra. Der Garten ist prächtig. Wir klettern auf Türme und kriechen durch Höhlen, alles vor mehr als hundert Jahren vom damaligen Besitzer der Quinta einzig aus Spaß am exotischen Garten angelegt. Das Wetter ist frühlingshaft warm, keinesfalls heiß, nichts zu spüren von der europäischen Hitzewelle, geschweige denn portugiesischen Waldbränden. Tatsächlich fasst am Nachmittag nur Amón den Mut für ein Bad in unserem schönen Pool, die anderen trotzen der Kälte. Nach einem üppigen Mittagessen gegen 17 Uhr mault der Küchendienst erneut. Vincent und Noah in großäugigem Entsetzen " wie, die Töpfe auch? Da sind noch Spuren von kostbaren Essensresten, die wollten wir aufheben für morgen! Das mussten die anderen auch nicht machen! .... Bla, bla,bla......! Keine Gnade, ich blockiere die Tür;-) Die beiden schwören unter Protest Rache ;-)Read more

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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Quinta da Regaleira, Palais de la Regaleira

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