It is worth seeing not only the palace, but also the densely tree-covered park with tunnels, caves, towers, two wells with steps, fountains, a chapel and many other decorative and symbolic structures.
Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal is above all a romantic place with a mix of Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance architecture. The most impressive features of the palace gardens are two unusual wells. They have a winding corridor around them like inverted towers. They were never used to collect water. The larger of the two, called the Initiation Well, is said to be related to a mysterious initiation ritual of the Freemasons. A tradition goes back to the initiation ritual of the Knights Templar, who were in Portugal during the Reconquista against the Muslim kingdoms. The second well, called the Unfinished Well, is closed to the public. It also contains a spiral staircase leading down to a dark abyss.
