Does anyone wanna hear of my awesome and totally dangerous adventure through this touristic spot?
Ofc ya want, and even if you don't you're clearly mistaken and therefore I'll share the pictures anyways
First, context.
Went to Sintra, this small village near Lisboa. It's a historical city, with lots of monuments ranging from all periods of history. But most importantly, it's surrounded by the Sintra mountain, a densely wooded area. Mix the unique views, stories and the whole range of architectural styles, it's easy to understand why people place in it an aura of mystery and magic.
So I went there but in specific to Quinta da Regaleira, a old villa built in between late XIXth and early XXth centuries by a rich dude who was a massive fan of everything occult. So he commissioned his gardens to be filled to the brim with strange places, symbolic structures and whatever symbols you could add. It worked, this place is heavily connected to the freemasons and other similar groups.
18 notes
·
View notes
Adventure in the Quinta
I used to live in Potsdam, or Prussian DisneyVegas as I not so fondly remember it. Sintra seems to have the same sort of idea behind it. "We're rich. Let's build over the top architecture and turn our extensive grounds into an adventure land."
I support this choice more in Sintra than I ever did in Potsdam. I think it's because of the "choose your own adventure" parks surrounding the palaces.
As I entered the grounds of Quinta da Regaleira, I was overwhelmed by the shear size. I looked at a posted map to try and make a plan, scanned the QR code to download a copy to my phone, and waited and waited and waited for the impossibly slow, but unlimited, data to respond. I decided to climb up towards the main event, the Initiation Well, turning up empty paths whenever I saw another human.
And it was the best decision. Right up until I made it to the well, heard the crowd of people, and couldn't find the end of the line.
Nope. Not doing it.
I turned around immediately, deciding to cross off the remainder of the grounds and return to the well after last entry at 5:30. Climbing up the side of the mountain twice was better than standing in a ridiculous line and potentially not seeing something.
Off I went, once again turning any time I saw another human. Up to the top, down to the bottom. Prancing around through the woods on tiny paths, exploring every tunnel, cave, and grotto, loving every moment of it.
Finally, I felt I had covered everything other than the main palace, the absolute bottom of the grounds that led to the exit, and the well. I could feel the grounds emptying. I was making more decisions based on interesting looking paths than away from humans. It was almost 5:30. Back to the well I went.
The line was gone! I slowly filed in after reading a sign about how we needed to keep moving, quickly take photos, and be respectful of everyone who also wanted their moment in the well. In case we forgot, staff yelled over the top and up from the bottom, "Keep moving, keep moving!"
I wouldn't say that this was my favorite moment of the palace. I did get to watch a woman refuse to keep moving, taking 3000 selfies with various hair swoops, leans, angles, and then proceed to disrespect the staff who were trying to allow everyone in attendance to get through the well. Nice humaning, lady, but her disrespect did allow me to capture the photo on the right with fewer people in. Because of its insta-fame, the well had lost the hidden magic the rest of the grounds have. It's already been discovered. By everyone.
Quinta da Regaleira is amazing. I can completely see why it is my guesthouse owner's favorite castle; it might be mine as well. The way the architects played with the water level in the grottos was probably my favorite aspect. You're above, you're below -- well done leading viewers through multiple vantage points. Going close to closing time was ideal. For my first hour or so, I strategically shot behind walls and foliage for people-free shots. Or waited, willing that guy in the blue shirt to just, a few more steps, yes! I also avoided almost every supposed insta-epic look out and every female possible. Oooh, there's a dress. Opposite direction. Ugh, and a hat. Definitely not. Around 5:45 the crowd really started to die down.
NOTE: You really do need more than 2 hours. Because of my palace research, I ended up with just under 2 hours and I would have loved more time to take it all in at a much slower pace. Not that I do slow well, but a little more breathing room that I was going to be able to fit in every inch would have been nice.
3 notes
·
View notes
"Quinta da Regaleira"
Went to this amazing place in Portugal called Quinta da Regaleira. Its quite the fantasy place.
--------------------------------------
Material
Camera: Panasonic Lumix G7
Model: mbooksbycandlelight (Instagram)
Photography © Patricia
1 note
·
View note