Trying to top the incredible Pena Palace is pretty much impossible but there are other inspiring, quirky and fascinating places to see in Sintra.
Quinta da Regaleria is just one of them. Another whimsical slice of Portuguese real estate!
Quinta da Regaleira is an estate located near the historic center of Sintra, Portugal. It is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO within the “Cultural Landscape of Sintra”.
*Wikipedia alert* The property consists of a ornate, romantic palace and chapel, and a verdant park that features lakes, grottoes, wells, benches, fountains, and a vast array of fantasical 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 land where the estate now stands was sold in 1892 to Carvalho Monteiro
He was eager to build a bewildering place where he could collect symbols that reflected his interests and ideologies.
With the assistance of the Italian architect Luigi Manini, he created the 4-hectare estate.
In addition to other new features, he added enigmatic buildings that allegedly held symbols related to alchemy, Masonry, the Knights Templar, and the Rosicrucians.
The architecture Manini designed evoked Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, and Manueline styles. The construction of the current estate commenced in 1904 and much of it was completed by 1910.
The whole estate is a wonderland of walls, follies, underground tunnels, hidden waterfalls and more.
Lots of fun! Next up the quirky sight that set our sights on this part of the world to be begin with!