The Masonic Initiation Wells of the Quinta da Regaleira

[icymist]

Located near the historic center of Sintra, Portugal lies the Quinta da Regaleira- a spectacular estate that sits in a World Heritage protected landscape. While thousands of tourists flock to the castle every year to admire the unique architecture of the Quinta de Regaleira that combines Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance features, one of its most fascinating features is located beneath the ground – a pair of wells spiraling deep within the earth. The wells were never used, nor intended for water collection. Instead, these mysterious underground towers were used for secretive initiation rites.

The cultural landscape upon which the Quinta da Regaleira sits dates back thousands of years. There are archaeological sites in the area dating back to the early Neolithic (5th millennium BC) and extending all the way through to the Iron Age (4th – 2nd centuries BC). The Roman occupation of the region began in the mid-2nd century BC and it was later conquered by the Moors. Sintra finally yielded to Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal after the conquest of Lisbon in 1147. Afonso built an imposing royal Palace there which served as a summer residence until the late 16th century. After the suppression of the Templars in 1312, the lands passed to the Order of Christ. In the late 15th century, Sintra was associated with Leonor, one of the greatest Queens of Portugal. Succeeding monarchs spent much time in the town, but after the Restoration of 1640, Sintra lost this link and the Royal palace served only as a prison for Afonso VI. Sadly, most of the built heritage of the region was destroyed in an earthquake in 1755, though there are some outstanding court and military buildings, examples of religious architecture and archaeological sites.

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