Portugal Trip - Sintra - Quinta da Regaleira
Breakfast at our cute little bed and breakfast was divine. European yogurts with granola, fruit and all kinds of toppings, croissants and interesting jams. So good. Love it when breakfast comes with the hotel.
I wandered around the property and took pictures inside and out before we checked out. Loved staying here!
I loved the walk from our hotel up on the hillside to the Quinta da Regaleira. So many textures and shapes and colors.
Quinta da Regaleira
The Neo-Everything (Manueline/Gothic/Renaissance) 1912 mansion and garden has mystical and Masonic twists. It was designed by Italian opera-set designer Luigi Manini for a wealthy but disgruntled monarchist two years after the royal family was deposed. While the mansion — prickly with spires — is striking from the outside, its interior is nothing compared to the Pena Palace. But the grounds are an utter delight to wander, with fanciful follies, secret underground passages, and lush landscaping.
The grounds were amazing! We headed straight for the dramatic spiral staircase burrowed 90 feet down into the hillside, hoping to get there before anyone else. It was pretty cool.
From the bottom of the staircase we took a tunnel leading right into a grotto, a bright green moss covered pond, cool stepping stones leading cross the main pond and a bridge overtop. It was fantastic.
Seriously, wandering around this whole area was so fun. We took lots of hidden pathways, cramped circular stairways and tree-covered trails which led us to cool castle turrets and bridges in different parts of the expansive gardens. We kept mentioning that our kids would have loved it!
Below is the elaborate private chapel.
From here we headed back to the hotel to get our car and headed north…