Quinta da Regaleira Symbolism: A deep dive into the mysteries and history of a strange palace and garden built by an eccentric millionaire in Sintra, Portugal.
Sometimes described as a playground for adults, Quinta da Regaleira is a mysterious estate built by a millionaire entomologist in the early 20th century, full of occult and masonic references. Chris talks about the history, symbolism, and some theories about the place.
Highlights include:
• A city named after a moon temple
• Freemason symbolism
• An Initiation Well
• A tree that’s the last of its kind
• Green men
• Pentagrams on church floors
• Secret tunnels
• A “floating” library
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Photo by Chris

A goat head decorating a building / Photo by Chris

Photo by Chris

Photo by Chris

Tower / Photo by Chris

Leda’s Cave / Photo by Chris

The palace / Photo by Chris

The door to the church basement / Photo by Chris

The front of the church / Photo by Chris

The church interior (ground floor) / Photo by Chris

The church ceiling (ground floor) / Photo by Chris

Photo by Chris

The palace / Photo by Chris

Another castle, seen from Quinta da Regaleira / Photo by Chris

A green man adorns a decorative urn / Photo by Chris

The Initiation Well / Photo by Chris

The Initiation Well / Photo by Chris

The Initiation Well / Photo by Chris

The Initiation Well / Photo by Chris

The Portal of the Guardians–crocodiles or dragons? / Photo by Chris

The Unfinished Well / Photo by Chris
Sources consulted RE: Quinta da Regaleira Symbolism
Websites RE: Quinta da Regaleira Symbolism
- map:
https://www.regaleira.pt/media/1004/folhetoen.pdf - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189164-d484394-Reviews-Quinta_da_Regaleira-Sintra_Sintra_Municipality_Lisbon_District_Central_Portugal.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B3nio_Augusto_Carvalho_Monteiro
- https://masterhorologer.com/2018/02/15/l-leroy-cie-leroy-01-other-important-historical-watches/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Manini
- https://portugalvirtual.pt/sintra/quinta-da-regaleira.php
- http://www.sintra-portugal.com/Attractions/Quinta-Regaleirais-Sintra.html
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182187259/ant_nio-augusto-de_carvalho_monteiro
- https://www.regaleira.pt/en/mapa
- https://archive.org/details/AntonioAugustoCarvalhoMonteiro-UmNaturalistaPioneiro/mode/2up
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manueline
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aoki_Corporation
- https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/10/06/quinta-da-regaleira-one-of-the-most-visited-residences-in-sintra-portugal/
- http://www.barcroft.tv/portugal-initiation-wells-deep-tourist-attraction-lost-time
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Grove
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bohemian_Club_members
- https://wiccanrede.org/2019/05/strange-tales-of-aleister-crowley-the-mouth-of-hell-and-the-abbey-of-thelema-part-1/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ninth_Gate
- https://www.atlaslisboa.com/sintras-myths-legends-and-paranormal-activity/
- contains a lot of occult symbolism RE: the estate: http://www.akicederberg.com/new-page-1
https://www.atlaslisboa.com/monserrate/ - Byron’s poem: https://www.romanticpoets.org/public_html/p5/poems/lb1812_childe_harold_01_portugal.htm
- https://www.countrylife.co.uk/architecture/quinta-da-regaleira-portugal-mysterious-garden-designed-world-famous-set-designer-architect-173427
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leda_and_the_Swan
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leda_(mythology)
- https://www.buildingbeautifulsouls.com/symbols-meanings/flower-meanings-symbolism/camellia-meaning-symbolism
- https://www.buildingbeautifulsouls.com/symbols-meanings/tree-symbolism-meanings/oak-tree-meaning-symbolism/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycad
- https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2011/05/10/136029423/the-loneliest-plant-in-the-world
- https://www.newsgram.com/sequoia-trees-and-spirituality
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoiadendron_giganteum
- https://www.buildingbeautifulsouls.com/symbols-meanings/tree-symbolism-meanings/sequoia-tree-meaning-symbolism/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_tree_in_culture
- https://visitsintra.travel/en/visit/monuments/palace-and-quinta-da-regaleira
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laima
- https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrique_Jos%C3%A9_de_Souza
- https://www.ancient-symbols.com/symbols-directory/sun-wheel.html
- https://www.adl.org/education/references/hate-symbols/sonnenrad
- https://www.adl.org/education/references/hate-symbols/celtic-cross
- https://www.ancientpages.com/2018/08/20/12-alchemy-symbols-explained/
- https://viajeraymochilero.com/en/la-quinta-de-regaleira-sintra-portugal-2/
- http://www.builtconstructions.in/OnlineMagazine/Bangalore/Pages/Quinta-Da-Regaleira,-Sintra,-Portugal-0076.aspx
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/toyaguerrero/5661984523
- https://surviveportugal.blogspot.com/2014/07/quinta-da-regaleira-sintra.html?m=1
- https://www.ptraveler.com/2014/06/05/mystic-craze-at-quinta-da-regaleira/
- https://wonderfulwanderings.com/palaces-in-sintra//
- http://www.estorilportugal.com/features/quinta-da-regaleira/
- https://allthatsinteresting.com/quinta-da-regaleira
- http://www.wallswithstories.com/uncategorized/a-remarkable-estate-in-portugal-with-a-romantic-palace-chapel-underground-towers.html
- https://www.edenflaherty.com/travel-1/2019/7/8/quinta-da-regaleira
- https://www.spottinghistory.com/view/6098/quinta-da-regaleira/
- https://www.gardendestinations.com/sintras-quinta-da-regaleira-invites-exploration/
- http://www.backpacktourist.com/2012/03/quinta-da-regaleira/
- https://www.castleholic.com/2017/01/quinta-da-regaleira.html?m=1
- https://www.stolenhistory.org/threads/quinta-da-regaleira-palace-grounds-and-initiation-wells-sintra-portugal.2158/
- https://paisajelibre.com/jardines-misterio-quinta-da-regaleira/
- http://different-doors.com/quinta-da-regaleira/
- https://madhouseheaven.com/mysteries-of-quinta-de-regaleira
- https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-ancient-places-europe/masonic-initiation-wells-quinta-da-regaleira-002263
- https://www.travelwithwinny.com/quinta-da-regaleira-sintra/
- https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/local/blogs/2019/02/23/quinta-da-regaleira-travel-portugal-sintra/2962119002/
- https://www.atlaslisboa.com/sintras-myths-legends-and-paranormal-activity/
Listen to the of the Ouija board series:
- Ouija Boards Part 1 – Planchette and Automatic Writing
- Helen Peters and Ouida / Invention (Ouija Boards Part 2)
- William Fuld (Ouija Boards Part 3)
- 19th Century Ouija Board Stories / Early Ouijamania (Ouija Boards Part 4)
- Victorian Egyptomania (Ouija Boards Part 5)
- Ouija after World War I (Ouija Boards Part 6)
- 1920s Ouijamania (Ouija Boards Part 7)
- More 1920s Ouija Board Stories (Ouija Boards Part 8)
- Kill Daddy: The Turley Ouija Board Murder (Ouija Boards Part 9)
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