Sintra – one of the best day trips from Lisbon, offers so many amazing things to visit. The mysterious Quinta da Regaleira is an exciting stop on any Sintra day trip and is easily one of the best places to visit in Sintra. Located not far from the old town center of Sintra, many tourists visit it frequently. So if you are searching for a fairy-tale experience full of mysticism, romance, and magic, Quinta da Regaleira is your place. Find below why it is a must-visit attraction in Sintra.
How to get there
We (my travel buddy and I) were on a day trip to Sintra, which started with the colorful Pena Palace. When we explored this fairy-tale castle, we headed towards our next stop in the town of Sintra – the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira.
Because we were not on an organized tour, we used public transport, a relatively convenient way to travel between Sintra sights. We took bus 434 from Pena Palace to the city center. (There is a bus every 20 minutes.) You can take a Tuk-tuk to go to the next place, but it will be more expensive. If you go by car, finding a parking spot could be a bit challenging, especially during peak hours. Check out this Sintra Historical Jeep Adventure tour if you are more adventurous and like organized tours.
We stopped in the city center, where we had the chance to look at the National Palace, go for a walk in the center, and take something for lunch. From here, you can take bus 435 to Quinta da Regaleira. But the Palace is within walking distance from Sintra center (15 minutes away from the National Palace on the main road). So, we decided to walk and had the chance to look around and feel the local atmosphere of Sintra.
History of the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira looks like an old mystical structure. But actually, it was designed between 1904 and 1910, during the last days of Portugal’s monarchy. It is on a site previously belonging to the Barons of Regaleira, a family of wealthy merchants from Porto. Since 2002 Quinta da Regaleira has been classified as a National Monument preserved by the Cultursintra Foundation.
Why you should visit Quinta da Regaleira
Palacio da Regaleira is known for its Gothic style and vast estate. It is like a giant maze. It includes caves, tunnels, turrets, wells, castles, statues, and fountains, where you can get lost wandering from one place to another. (It is a good idea to use the map that you get with the ticket, so you don’t miss the main points 🙂 )
Quinta da Regaleira is an impressive spot with many things to see. Of course, there’s a lot to explore, but 2 hours should be enough to see the major highlights, especially if you have only one day in Sintra. If you want to spend more time here, you can also book a day tour to Quinta da Regaleira and wine tasting in Sintra.
The main house of Quinta da Regaleira
The main house is gorgeous, with ornate Gothic architecture, surrounded by lush greenery. On the facade of the Palace, you can see Gothic turrets, gargoyles, and Manueline motifs. There is also an interesting octagonal panoramic terrace with a beautiful view. The Palace consists of a ground floor, three upper floors, and a basement worth visiting.
Don’t miss:
The dining room is a room decorated in a hunting theme. The main points are the massive ornate fireplace and a statue of a woodsman.
The ceiling of the King’s room is decorated with portraits of kings and queens of the Portuguese monarchy.
Renaissance Hall is the former drawing-room. When you look up, you will see chandeliers shaped like the Cross of the Order of Christ hanging from an ornate wooden ceiling.
The Palace has extraordinary architecture everywhere you look. For instance: You will notice the beautiful octagonal turret on the southern corner. On the northern corner, there is a neo-gothic tower. It was an office with a stairway to a laboratory and access to rooftop terraces.
The Chapel
In front of the main building, you will see a chapel built in a Neo-Manueline style. Inside, there are images of Mary and Christ and symbols of the Knights Templar and Knights of Christ.
The Gardens of Quinta da Regaleira
One word – breathtaking. The gardens with the beautiful structures throughout the grounds were the main attraction for us and a lovely place for a walk, where we spent a lot of time.
The gardens of Quinta da Regaleira are spectacular with mystical themes, covering different periods and influenced by Virgil, Dante, Templars, the Order of Christ, and Freemasonry. Go for a walk through the garden and enjoy its various monuments, fountains, caves, tunnels, and towers.
Intriguing is the Gods Promenade – an alley with Gods’ statues. But, don’t also miss the Portal of the Guardians. It is a structure with twin towers at both ends and a balcony. In the center, you will see an arch with a statue of two reptilians holding a large seashell. What can you find inside the Portal of the Guardians? Oh, there is a hidden entrance to a tunnel leading to the popular Initiation Well.
The Initiation Well
One of the most famous attractions at Quinta da Regaleira is the Initiation Well. It is a 27 meters tower/hole with a spiral staircase, never used for water. Instead, it was used for ceremonial purposes by the owner of the grounds, the wealthy businessman and Freemason Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. He designed the property to be full of mystery. At the Initiation Well, go down the spiral staircase to the bottom. The pattern on the well’s floor is a compass overlaying a Templar Cross, thought to be Monteiro’s coat of arms.
At the end of the stairway, you will get to a maze of caves and tunnels to exit the well.
The Unfinished Well
Nearby you can find a second smaller well (we found it firstly, and I admit, for a while, we thought it was the famous well. But Nooo… it was too small to be the right one). It is known as the Unfinished Well and contains a series of straight staircases that join the ring platforms.
Nearby you will see the Gruta do Oriente – a series of caves running under the gardens.
Regaleira Tower
Climb this fairy-tale turret and admire amazing views of the Sintra mountain and the Moorish Castle above. (It reminds me of Rapunzel’s Tower. What do you think? 🙂 )
Quinta da Regaleira opening hours
Quinta da Regaleira is open from 10 am to 6:30 pm. I recommend buying a ticket online to skip the lines (it is one of the most popular and busiest attractions in Sintra).
Do you like the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira and would you include it on your list of places to visit in Sintra?
Share with me in the comments below.
Inspired? Pin it for later!
0 Comments