Sintra

Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal

Quinta da Regaleira is a fairytale house in a fairytale landscape and well worth a visit.

The house and the garden is one of the most enigmatic monuments of the cultural landscape of Sintra. The present-day form was built between 1898 and 1912 under the supervision of Carvalho Monteiro. The style is neo-manuelin and the decorative theme involved some of Portugal’s best artists: Antonio Goncalves, Joao Machado, Jose da Fonseca, Costa Motta and Rodrigo de Castro, as sculptors in stone and Julio da Fonseca, in wood.

The garden, as an image of the Cosmos, is revealed through a succession of magic and mysterious places. You will find abundant references to the world of mythology, to Olympus, Virgil, Dante, Milton and Camoes, and to the mission of the Templars as continued by the Order of Christ, to great mystics and miraculous magicians, and to the enigmas of the alchemical Ars Magna.

The house is a magic castle with fairytale carvings of all sorts. Plan to spend at least three hours exploring the place.

Good luck.

Video: Lisbon (Portugal) – the city of panoramic views and my amazing friends

Lisbon to me was a maze of gorgeous panoramic views from the hillsides overlooking Rio Tejo and the city itself. Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and interesting museums are all part of the colourful cityscape, but the most amazing part is just wondering around the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets.

Tiny coffee and cake shops are found everywhere and in Bairro Alto you can enjoy evenings with fado – the traditional Portuguese melancholic singing. You will also find dozens of restaurants and bars line the narrow streets, with jazz, reggae and electronic and any day of the week you can party until dawn. Yet, while history is very much alive in centuries-old Lisbon, its spirit is undeniably youthful.

The Lisbon experience encompasses so many things, from enjoying a fresh pastry and bica (espresso) on a petite leafy plaza to window-shopping in elegant Chiado. It’s mingling with Lisboêtas at a neighbourhood festival or watching the sunset from the old Moorish castle.

Just outside Lisbon, there’s more to explore: the magical setting of Sintra, glorious beaches and traditional fishing villages.

I absolutely adored Lisbon – but the city would not have been half the glory or fun without my darling friends there.

Thanks a million Francisco for spending a whole week with me and showing me every single bit of Lisbon…all the beautiful, peculiar and hidden places. You are the best tour guide ever.

And thanks a million Joao for showing me what supreme hospitality is and sharing your home with me for a whole week. It was wonderful!

Qualquer momento e onde quer que eu vivo – a minha casa é sua casa.

Com amor Tina