The Mysterious inverted tower of Regaleira- and the Masonic Templars

Quinta da Regaleira is a Quinta located near the historic center of Sintra and a 25 minute walk from Xintara. It is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO within the “Cultural Landscape of Sintra”.

Along with the other palaces in the area such as the Quinta do Relógio, Pena, Monserrate and Seteais palaces, it is considered one of the principal tourist attractions of Sintra.

The property consists of a romantic palace and chapel, and a luxurious park that features lakes, grottoes, wells, benches, fountains, and a vast array of exquisite constructions.

The palace is also known as “The Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire”, which is based on the nickname of its best known former owner, António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. The palace was designed by the Italian architect Luigi Manini.

Regaleira has a mysterious 30m deep inverted tower or Initiation Well and represents an initiatory path within the Templar Masonry tradition.

Initiation meant overcoming darkness to reach light whilst at the time recognizing that there is no light without darkness.  At the end of dark underground tunnels, you emerge in front of pools of water across which stepping-stones allow you to move from one symbolic realm to another. 

 See link below for a short film on Quinta Regaleira’s inverted tower and Masonic Templar myth

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p07r1cbm/the-mysterious-inverted-tower-steeped-in-templar-myth