Quinta da Regaleira

The gothic romantic pile in the main image is the Quinta da Regaleira, built in the mid eighteen hundreds by a coffee magnate with a fascination for the occult and divination. In the grounds is a spiral well (extra) beneath which he held tarot sessions with his friends and associates, and throughout the extensive gardens there are tunnels and grottos and spring water wells surmounted with deities and sprites. Staying in Sintra as we were, we were able to get a head start on the couches of tourists who arrived at midday, so some of our pictures actually have few or no people in them!