- Mafra Library
- Mafra Library
But the books - oh, my! So, so magnificent! - Mafra Library
The famous library has about 36 000 volumes - dating from 14th to 19th century, including the Nuremerg Chronicle from 1493 (The complete book) and the Diderot et d'Alembert Encyclopédie from 1751. - Perspectivae pictorum atque architectorum
Perspectivae pictorum atque architectorum. Andrea Pozzo. This Latin/German edition is from 1719. The complete book I do have a soft spot for Andrea Pozzo as he was the architect of my hometown's cathedral. - Regla de las cinco ordenes de architectura
Regla de las cinco ordenes d'architectura de Iacome de Vignola. Giacomo Barocci da Vignola. This spanish edition is from 1702. The complete book - Architecture de Palladio, Divisee en Quatre Livres
Architecture de Palladio, Divisee en Quatre Livres. Andrea Palladio. This french edition is from 1726. The complete book - Mundus Subterraneus
Mundus Subterraneus. A book from 1665 by Athanasius Kircher. This page explains the connections of water inside the Earth. The complete book - 18th century tools
Tools from the 1st half of the 18th century: the suspension weights, the monkey, the ratchet, and the wedges. - Giant compasses
These compasses are giant! But than again, you probably need them if you're building such a huuuge thing. - Furniture
Well... not my cup of tea at all, but interesting nevertheless. - What a cutie!
In the Hunting room, also called the Trophy room. - Another ... game?
Another game in the Game room. It might be some sort of early table football but I am not sure. - The Yellow room
Also called the Music room or the Reception room. - A billiard table
The Games room - Tassels
- Queen's bathroom
- Queen's bathroom
- A chair in Queen's bedroom
Most of the furniture was taken to Brazil when the Royal family fled in 1808, so the palace was later redecorated in the original style. - Chamberlain's room
The coat of arms and a bunch of Greek gods. - Basilica
The view the King and the Queen had during the Mass. - Sala da Benção
In the middle between King's and Queen's apartments, there is the Sala da Benção where they could attend Mass without actually going to the basilica. - Palace corridors
The King's and Queen's quarters were 232 m apart... so, technically, if the floors were completely flat, one could see the curvature of the Earth. - King's bed
- King's bedroom
- King's bedroom
Gondola-inspired bed. For the King. 200 m away from the Queen's bed. - King's chapel
"He was a carpenter by trade, or at least that's what I'm told..." - Throne room
- Diana room
The ceiling in Diana room. The King's quarters, obviously. - 18th century pharmacy
The ... equipment. - The Infirmary
All the beds in the Infirmary faced the altar. - The Infirmary
The palace served as a Franciscan friary - it actually started as a modest friary for 13 Capuchin friars... This is the Infirmary for the seriously ill. - Old priest shoes
The priests surely had some lovely shoes. - Parque da Liberdade
Parque da Liberdade - entrance to the Botanical Garden. - Quinta da Regaleira
- King's Room
Formerly a billiard room, it is decorated with portraits of Portuguese monarchs: 20 kings and 4 queens. These three are: João II (1455-1495), Manuel I (1469-1521) and João III (1502-1557). - Frescoes
The whole palace is a mixture of styles, ideas and second thoughts. - The Hunting room
A "javali" - The Hunting room
The Quinta was bought by Baroness da Regaleira in 1840 and made into her summer retreat. - The Hunting room
And a parrot! - Monstera deliciosa
A monstrous monstera - The chapel's basement
Of course there is another secret passage from the chapel's basement taking you ... well, someplace else in the gardens. - The Chapel window
The stained window in the Capela da Santíssima Trindade. - Labyrinthic Grotto
A wonderful underground maze - Random flowers
- The palace
The main palace and a bit of the chapel in the front. - Another tower
The tower above Leda's Grotto - Bromeliad(?)
Probably a bromeliad. Or something similar. - Steep stairs
Well, these are some steep stairs. - Portal of the Guardians
Another entrance/exit from the underground and the Initiation wells. - Lake of the Waterfall
- Exit
Exit and entrance into the underground. - Quinta underground
A whole maze of underground pathways. - Lake of the Waterfall
Just magical. - Lake of the Waterfall
The waters were pretty low so interesting patterns appeared on the rocks. - Lake of the Waterfall
I wonder how many people fall into the water annually. - The Unfinished Well
View up the Unfinished Well - The Unfinished Well
As the name says, this well appears unfinished. - The Initiation Well
I can't imagine how much work went into the whole palace and the gardens. - Underground walkways
Again, one of the many underground walkways. - Portal of the Guardians
One of the many fountains in the park - The Initiation Well
27 m deep and full of mystery. - The Initiation Well
27 m deep "inverted" tower that was used for ceremonial purposes related to Tarot mysticism, according to Wikipedia. - Rhododendron
- The entrance
The entrance to the Initiation Well. Rather dull compared to what's behind these doors. - Portal of the Guardians
The gardens of Quinta da Regaleria - Logs in Quinta
Perfection. - Palácio Nacional
The same palace - Sintra National Palace - in daylight - Quinta das Murtas
This was our room/cottage in the hotel. - A mandarin(?) tree
In the hotel garden, of course. You can tell that I really liked the place... - Calla
So wonderful to see flowers in February. - Fountain
A fountain in the hotel's garden. Oh, there was also a pool (closed in winter) and a jacuzzi (open in winter :-) - Stone stairs
Stairs in our hotel - Quinta das Murtas - Camellia
A camellia and duckweed. But the camellia is neither red nor white, so what does that mean? - Quinta das murtas
Mirror, mirror on the wall... - Quinta das murtas
The reception of the hotel. It really puts you in the mood of the whole town. - Cupboard pattern
The pattern of the cupboard in black and white. - Quinta das murtas
A rather interesting decoration in the hotel. But is fits perfectly into the whole over-the-top town. - Quinta das murtas
And interesting furniture. - Quinta das murtas
An ancient passage in the hotel - Stone stairs
The stairs in our hotel - Quinta das murtas - Palácio Valenças
Sintra's Coat of arms on Palácio Valenças - The court of the National Palace
Another black&white colour photo. Besides, it looks like a cool optical illussion ;-) - Palácio Nacional
The palace is a blend of Gothic, Manueline, Moorish, and Mudéjar styles... - The chimneys
The famous chimneys of Palácio Nacional de Sintra. - Palácio Nacional
The National Palace of Sintra, the medieval royal residence from 15th to 19th century. - Castelo dos Mouros
The castle at night. I love colour photos that appear black& white. - Castelo dos Mouros
View of the Castelo from Largo Rainha Dona Amélia - Some stairs
Stairs in the town centre at night - A street sign
A street sign in Sintra. - Wall decoration
Decoration in Miradouro da Villa, Sintra - Sintra National Palace
The palace as seen from Rua Marechal Saldanha. - Sintra at night
A house opposite of our hotel at night - Entrance to the Palace
- Pena Palace
The Pena colours at sunset is even warmer. - Patio dos Arcos
We were one of the last visitors there, enjoying the sunset. - Patio dos Arcos
The warm setting sun was literally caressing my soul. - Details
Details on the facade - Details
Details of the roof - Another window
Just another different window - The Triton
He is one angry Triton.