Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal

Quinta da Regaleira is a quinta or historic estate located on a hill in Sintra, Portugal. The property was owned by Viscondessa da Regaleira but sold to António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, also known as Monteiro dos Milhões, (Moneybags Monteiro) who made the unique property what it is today. Visible from this estate is Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. After passing through various owners, the Sintra Town Council acquired the property in 1997 and after renovation efforts, opened the estate to the public in June of 1998.

Visitors can roam the vast estate exploring the palace, chapel, tunnels, grottos, wells, and fountains. A lot of mystery and enigma surrounds this estate, with rumored ties to the Knights Templar and Freemasons and steeped in alchemy. The Initiation Wells or inverted towers resemble underground towers accessible by stairs. Tunnels connect the two wells and lead to various caves and monuments.

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Travel
R. Barbosa du Bocage 5, 2710-567 Sintra, Portugal
Coordinates: 38.7963° N, 9.3960° W

Cost & Admission
Up to date hours and prices can be found here.

Food
Cafe on site with fair prices.

Activities
Explore the vast property. A map can be found here.

Tips
Some of the tunnels and caves are not for the faint of heart. I never imagined myself brave enough to traverse through the tunnels but I did and don’t regret it!