Yesterday morning we took a 40-minute train out of Lisbon to Sintra, a village in the hills. The woods stretching west from the town's historical center to the coast are dotted with castles, royal retreats, and other estates. The heavy fog was fitting for a visit to this supposedly mystical region.
We started at the Sintra National Palace, one of the sights that kept showing up on must-see-Lisbon lists. The place was jam-packed with elderly people in tour groups, so we aggressively elbowed our way through the grandiose rooms. One hightlight was the kitchen, with the ceilings curving upward into two big smoke stacks (pictured below, with a weird perspective thing because of how the image was put together).
Way cooler than that was the Quinta de Regaleira, a wooded estate with a palace-like house & a small chapel designed by the Italian architect Luigi Manini. But the best part was the extensive grounds, which featured a network of paths leading to fountains, grottos, ponds, a grotto tunnel labyrinth, little towers, flower gardens, and a series of tunnels leading to something called the Initiation Well.
We also walked way up the hill through the fog to the outer wall of the Moorish Castle, and then back into town where we caught the train and collapsed into our seats.
We have travelled. But never have we seen sights such as you have in Portugal. This Initation Well - here's what I found on an 'amazing facts' website -
ReplyDeleteThe 27 metre deep well, resembles an inverted tower, and depending on the direction you choose, either a journey down into the depths of the earth, or a climb out of the darkness into the light, the journey through the earth is like a rebirth through mother natures womb, from where all things come and where one day all shall return.
This is a country well-travelled by you two. Kudos. And thanks for taking us along with you. xox