Quinta da Regaleira is one of the most unusual places in Sintra.
The estate was transformed between 1904 and 1910 by António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, a wealthy collector known as “Monteiro dos Milhões”. He worked with the Italian architect and set designer Luigi Manini, who also worked on the Buçaco Palace.
Together, they created a palace, chapel and gardens filled with symbols connected to alchemy, the Knights Templar, Freemasonry and the Rosicrucians.
Since 1995, Quinta da Regaleira has been part of the UNESCO Cultural Landscape of Sintra.
What to see:
The Initiation Well
A spiral staircase about 27 metres deep. It was not used as a water well, but as a symbolic space connected to rituals, descent and rebirth.
The Palace
A mix of Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance and Roman-inspired styles, with towers, carved stone and detailed façades.
The Chapel
Small but full of symbols, including religious and Templar references.
The Gardens
Tunnels, caves, fountains, hidden paths and viewpoints. This is where Quinta da Regaleira becomes more than just a palace.
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