In a recent post, I shared with you tips on visiting Sintra’s Pena Palace, in this post, I am sharing a visual diary from out visit to Quinta da Regaleira Sintra’s Initiation Well. An absolute must see even if you are visiting Sintra in one day from Lisbon or as a weekend trip. Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra was the summer residence of the Carvalho Monteiro family and was built in the Neo-Manueline architecture style. It brought some of Portugal’s best artists and architects. It changed hands many times between 1697 and 1817 and in 1840 was bought by the Baroness da Regaleira and transformed into an elegant summer retreat, with a palatial house and chapel. The name was then changed to Quinta da Regaleira.
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Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira estate is filled with so many gems to explore, as beautiful as Pena Palace is, Quinta da Regaleira offers a much more interesting place to explore. The main house features terraces with amazing views of Sintra Hills and the Atlantic Ocean. Quinta da Regaleira interior and rooms feature portraits of Portuguese monarchs, beautifully decorated fireplaces and interiors. The estate grounds feature a chapel, fountains; fountain of Regaleira and Balnearium, Initiation Well, tennis court, lakes, underground walkways, grottos and surrounded by gardens. Each of these gems are scattered on the grounds that each corner reveals a new gem every few meters.
The Promenade Of The Gods
An avenue that links the Pisoes Loggia to the main house on the estate, with statues of classical gods; Fortune, Orpheus, Venus, Flora, Ceres, Pan, Dionysus, Volcan and Hermes.
The Initiation Well In Sintra Portugal
A “subterranean tower”, that sinks some 27 meters into the earth, made accessible by a monumental spiral stairway, this hallowed space, full of esoteric and alchemical associations, makes the relation between Heaven and Earth intensely felt. The Initiation Well symbolises the initiation ceremony for the Knights Templar. In the well there is a concealed passage that after descending 27 meters connects to a series of tunnels that run the length of the gardens on Regaleira Palace.
The Initiation Well in Sintra Portugal
The Portal Of The Guardians
A highly dramatic structure composed of twin towers flanking a central pavilion under which is the hidden one of the entrance ways to the Initiation well.
Quinta da Regaleira Entrance Fee
As I mentioned in my post on Pena Palace, entrance fee to Quinta da Regaleira is not free with the Lisboa card but you do get a discount off your ticket price.
How To Get To Quinta da Regaleira
Getting to Quinta da Regaleira is super easy, when exploring Sintra, I would highly recommend starting with Pena Palace as that is right at the top of the mountain or hill in Sintra. From there you then walk down about 5 minutes to get to Quinta da Regaleira. You dont really need to get a bus or anything like that as the distance is short. There are buses right outside Quinta da Regaleira, in fact, Pena Palace and the other palaces too. This way you can get a bus straight from Sintra train station to Quinta da Regaleira or any of the palaces. If you start from the bottom, just bear in mind that you will have to walk all the way up the hill and it easy quite a steep and long journey up. Hence why I recommend starting at the top and working your way down. You can also take the taxi or tuk tuk from Sintra train station to the palaces of Sintra and back to the station especially if you are visiting Sintra on a day trip from Lisbon.
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