Regaleira Palace II

by Marco Oliveira

Original - Not For Sale

Price

Not Specified

Dimensions

4000.000 x 6015.000 pixels

Title

Regaleira Palace II

Artist

Marco Oliveira

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The Regaleira Palace and Estate was built in the beginning of the 20th century and is situated next to Sintra's historical centre. It was born from the imagination of its millionaire owner António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro and the Italian architect Luigi Manini.

The Regaleira family were rich merchants who purchased the land in the late nineteenth century, and it was over the next decade that Carvalho Monteiro set about realising his dream of constructing his own magic hideaway in conjunction with the renowned Italian architect.

The Quinta da Regaleira embodies a combination of styles including Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline and it is believed that each section of building incorporates hidden symbols related to Masonry, Alchemy, the famous Knights Templar and the Rosicrucians, a sign of his dedication to his homeland and his family's historical, cultural and commercial importance in Portugal's history.

The estate covers nine acres in which architecture and landscaping combine with breath-taking effect to create a mystical place of lakes, grottoes, fountains, wells, streams and stone-built structures. It remained in the family for several decades before being sold twice and finally being acquired by Sintra Town Hall in 1997 and opened to the general public a year later. Declared a public interest property by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture shortly after its opening, The Regaleira Estate's importance went on to be realised by UNESCO who later designated it a World Heritage Site.

From the luxuriant gardens to the numerous buildings, such as the Milhões Palace, the Santí­ssima Trindade Chapel, or the turrets and the small palaces, the Regaleira Estate provides an entrance in an alternative dimension that one could never guess just by looking at its main gates. The real beauty is in discovering the hidden nooks and crannies of the exterior gardens. Hidden amongst the greenery and water features is a series of tunnels that pass beneath the ground, interconnecting many of the primary sights within the nine-acres estate. The turrets that rise from the grounds inspire a series of delightful panoramic vistas out across Sintra and the lush rolling hills beyond.

Uploaded

December 18th, 2013

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