Quinta da Regaleira is an estate located in Sintra and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of its attractions is an initiation or initiation well. This Initiation Well was designed by Italian architect Luigi Manini under the direction of the wealthy Brazilian-Portuguese businessman, who owned the estate at the time . It originally belonged to the viscountess of Regaleira who sold it to Carvalho Monteiro in 1892. Monteiro, an alleged Freemason, wanted to create a confusing landscape in which he could collect symbols that represented his views and areas of interest. The estate was a fusion of different architectural styles. Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline architectural motifs were all present in Manini's designs. It is believed that the well may have been used in secret initiation rituals and was popularly called the Initiation Well.
Bram de Jong is a freelance photographer with roots in nature. This is therefore reflected in his photographic work. Born by the sea, he works in the woods and has an interest in classical and modern architecture. Looking for an atmospheric landscape, a characteristic cityscape or a captivating.. Read more…