A must-see  if you have extra time in Lisbon is to head about 1/2 hour  NW to the city of Sintra.   On the north slope of the Sintra Mountains, it has been the summer haven for nobility, royalty and other rich types.  The draw is it’s cool, moist climate (Seattle?) most of the year, an escape from the summer heat.  Full of royal retreats (castles, palaces, estates), parks and incredible gardens, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.   It’s a popular day-trip, but in one day we could only squeeze in one estate, plus walk around the town a bit .  There’s easily a few days of exploring to do, more if you wanted to hike around the lush hills.

We visited the Quinta da Regaleira, a romantic palace & chapel, and luxurious park that features lakes, grottos,  wells, benches, fountains, and other exquisite constructions. It’s a mystical place, and would be quite a playground for kids with secret tunnels, cave grottos, and two wells used for ceremonial purposes that included tarot  initiation rites.   The floors open on the tour displayed many artifacts pertaining to it’s major reconstruction by a new owner at the turn of the century.

It was a damp day and the mist rolling down from the mountain top added to the mood.

Such craftsmanship.

Wisteria in full bloom.

My rock-solid man!

On the grounds..

The REAL big castle is at the top of the peak in the background.

Yup.  We ALL have wells like this in our yard!   Spiral staircase follows the contour down.

Some interior images.

Quite the place! – Laura