Regaleira Palace and Park (Quinta da Regaleira) description and photos - Portugal: Sintra (Topic)

Regaleira Palace and Park (Quinta da Regaleira) description and photos - Portugal: Sintra. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Quinta da Regaleira.

Photo and description

The Quinta da Regaleira Palace is located in the old town of Sintra and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first owner of the palace was Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, therefore the palace is also called the “Palace of the Millionaire Monteiro”. There are many palaces in Sintra, but the Quinta da Regaleira Palace is one of the very first places where tourists tend to go.

This palace has seen many owners. In 1892, the owners were the Barons Regaleira, a family of wealthy Porto merchants. A year later, the land was bought by Carvalho Monteiro. Monteiro wanted to build a palace that, with its architectural details, would reflect his interests and worldview. With the help of the Italian architect Luigi Manini, he managed to carry out his plans. A complex was built on 4 hectares, consisting of unusual buildings, in which, as it was believed, were hidden symbols of alchemy, Freemasonry, the Knights Templar and the Rosicrucian society. The architecture of the complex combines Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline styles. The construction of this masterpiece began in 1904 and was practically completed in 1910. The palace changed its owners twice more. In 1997, the palace was bought by the municipality of Sintra, and a year later, after restoration work, the palace was opened for public visits and excursions.

The palace is a five-story building located at the bottom of the park. The facade is replete with pointed Gothic style turrets and gargoyles. In front of the main facade of the palace there is a Romanesque catholic chapel, richly decorated with frescoes and stucco patterns inside.

A large territory of the complex is occupied by a park, which is dotted with paths and paths. Under the upper part of the park, tunnels have been dug that connect grottoes and wells. On its territory there are two artificial lakes and several fountains.

We also recommend reading Pantheon description and photos - France: Paris

Topic: Regaleira Palace and Park (Quinta da Regaleira) description and photos - Portugal: Sintra.