Castles · Tour
Regaleira and Pena Guided, with the Masons and the Templars at the Initiation Well
Ratings collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
LisbonTwo palaces in Sintra, both with a guide, and the day is built around what the buildings mean rather than a list of rooms. The Quinta da Regaleira comes first: gardens, lakes and constructions that were designed to be read rather than admired, the Initiation Well among them. That is where the guide brings in the Masons and the order of the Knights Templar, and the symbols scattered through the estate stop looking decorative. Lunch is a break in the town, with free time for the old streets and the pastry shops Sintra is known for. The Pena Palace closes the day. Several architectural styles sit on the same building, which is the point of it, and there is time to walk the courtyards, the gardens and the state rooms. The park around the palace holds an unusual range of plants and trees, brought in from across the world, and from the terraces the view takes in the Moorish castle on the next ridge and the Atlantic behind it, before the drive back to Lisbon.
What's included
- Pick-up and drop-off at selected location (only with private option)
- Entrance to Pena Palace (if option selected)
- Travel insurance compliant with Portuguese regulations
- Guided tour inside monuments
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- Free time to enjoy Sintra’s Historic Center at your own pace
- Entrance to Quinta da Regaleira (if option selected)
- Transport in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional tour guide
Itinerary
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Alameda Cardeal Cerejeira, Lisboa
Meet your guide in front of the Miradouro Parque Eduardo VII, the Edward VII Park viewpoint. Alameda Cardeal Cerejeira, 1070-051 Lisboa.
Quinta da Regaleira
The Quinta da Regaleira, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the strangest of the Sintra estates. The architecture is mystical by design, the gardens are dense, and the symbolism is hidden on purpose. The grounds hold tunnels, grottoes, fountains and the Initiation Well, a spiral staircase cut down into the earth as a path of transformation. Chapels, towers and terraces carry details drawn from alchemy, mythology and esoteric tradition. The facade is worth its own look, with elaborate windows, turrets and worked stone. The guide covers how the estate was built, the wealthy Carvalho Monteiro family behind it, and the mysteries the property was designed around. Time for photographs, and for one of the more unusual cultural sites in Portugal.
Sintra
Sintra itself, a town in the hills near Lisbon known for its romantic architecture, its greenery and its history. The streets are lined with pastel houses, small shops and old cafes. Several landmarks are seen from the outside, the Quinta da Regaleira, the Palácio Nacional de Sintra and the small chapels scattered around the town. The views take in the mountains, the forest and the Atlantic in the distance. The guide covers Sintra's heritage, its long use as a retreat by Portuguese royalty, and the legends attached to its streets and gardens. Free time here to explore, take photographs and see why the whole town is a UNESCO World Heritage destination.
Park and National Palace of Pena
The Pena Palace, the landmark of Portugal that most people picture first, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built on the top of the Sintra hills in the 19th century, it puts Gothic, Manueline, Moorish and Renaissance work on one Romantic building. The exterior is the draw, with its colours, its towers and its worked stone. Pena Park surrounds it: winding paths, exotic trees, grottoes and viewpoints over Sintra, the mountains and the Atlantic beyond. The guide covers the history of the palace, the commission by King Ferdinand II, and its use as a summer residence by the Portuguese royal family. Time for photographs, and for the detail that a rushed visit misses.
Alameda Cardeal Cerejeira, Lisboa
Not included
- Gratuities
- Meals and drinks
- Personal expenses
Good to know
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
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- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The tour may be conducted by a multilingual guide, depending on group composition.
- A minimum of 3 participants is required for the tour to operate.
- Children over 1 and under 12 (or under 135 cm) must use a suitable child seat, by law. We do not provide baby seats for children under 1 year (rear-facing, up to 13 kg), customers must bring their own.
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en, fr, es.
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