Description of the attraction
The Quinta da Regaleira Palace is located in the old town of Sintra and is 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 Regaleira barons, 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. On 4 hectares, a complex was built, consisting of unusual buildings, in which, as expected, were hidden symbols of alchemy, Freemasonry, the Knights Templar and the Rosicrucian society. The architecture of the complex is a mixture of 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 façade 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.
