Everything You Need To Know About Quinta da Regaleira’s History

Quinta da Regaleira, located in Sintra, Portugal, is a historic estate built in the early 20th century by the millionaire António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro in collaboration with architect Luigi Manini. It is well-known for its unique architecture including underground tunnels and initiation wells. Read on to learn about the mysterious history of this UNESCO World heritage site!

Quinta da Regaleira timeline

• 1892: The estate of Quinta da Regaleira is purchased by António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro from the Viscountess of Regaleira.
• Late 19th century: Carvalho Monteiro wants to build Quinta da Regaleira as a place to embody his interests and ideologies in Freemasonry and primitivism.
• 1904-1910: Quinta da Regaleira is constructed under the direction of Carvalho Monteiro and architect Luigi Manini, featuring a blend of Romantic, Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architectural styles, infused with esoteric symbolism.
• 1920: Carvalho Monteiro passes away, having had limited time to enjoy his estate.
• 1942: The estate is sold to Waldemar d'Orey, who uses it as a private residence for his family. Repairs and restoration work are undertaken.
• 1987: The estate is sold to the Japanese Aoki Corporation, which keeps it closed to the public for ten years.
• 1997: The Sintra Town Council acquires Quinta da Regaleira and initiates extensive restoration efforts.
• June 1998: Quinta da Regaleira opens to the public.
• August 1998: The Portuguese Ministry of Culture classifies the estate as a property of public interest, recognizing its historical and cultural significance. The estate is declared a national monument and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Construction of Quinta da Regaleira

Luigi Manini, an Italian architect designed the Regaleira palace, chapel, and garden. He used a unique blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Manueline architectural styles. This is depicted by the use of columns, gargoyles, towers and turrets in the Regaleira palace.

The chapel features beautiful stained-glass windows, stonework and religious artwork and frescoes. Surrounding the main buildings is a 4 hectare park, landscaped with pathways that lead through manicured and wild areas. This was deliberately designed to contrast natural raw beauty with well maintained lawns, based on Monteiro's Ideas. 

Beneath the park lies a network of mysterious tunnels that lead to the Initiation Wells. These wells resemble inverted towers and were believed to have been used for Freemason initiation rituals.