Quinta do Relógio, Cultural heritage estate in São Martinho, Portugal.
Quinta do Relógio is an estate near Sintra featuring a residence designed in Neo-Arabic style, situated within two hectares of romantic gardens. Winding paths connect diverse plantings of araucarias, sequoias, cork oaks, magnolias, and palm trees, punctuated by water features that enhance the journey through the property.
Manuel Pinto da Fonseca acquired the property around 1835 and commissioned architect António Manuel da Fonseca Júnior to design the residence. The estate later became part of the cultural landscape that earned Sintra its UNESCO World Heritage designation.
The estate takes its name from a former bell tower that once played minuets through multiple chimes, a feature documented in 19th-century illustrations. Walking through the grounds today, you can still sense the romantic vision of those who designed this place as a retreat.
The estate is accessible to visitors through organized guided tours and forms part of the UNESCO-protected cultural landscape of Sintra. Allow enough time to walk the winding paths and take in the different sections of the grounds at a relaxed pace.
The gardens harbor an unexpected collection of exotic trees, including South American araucarias and California sequoias, which in the 19th century signaled a collector's passion for the world beyond. This botanical selection reflects how wealthy residents of the area used their gardens as a form of personal travel diary.
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