I am in charge of planning a trip for my wife and her Father and his Wife. They are 80, and 75, and still active. We are in our early 50s and are fairly active. I am wondering about the initiation well at the Quinta and if you go down into it, how do you get back out. I have read there are tunnels, do you exit through one of those or do you need to climb back up? The 75year old has trouble with stairs, can do some. thanks in advance and hope this makes sense.
Posted by
130 posts
I would not recommend the Quinta da Regaleira gardens for someone who has difficulty with stairs. The gardens are on hills with many stairs and uneven ground. There is a tunnel at the bottom of the well, but the surface of that tunnel is not perfectly even. If you can do 40 or 50 stone steps without difficulty it is OK, but if not, I would not attempt the well. When I was there last, there was a nice snack bar/coffee area outside the big mansion, which is a good place to rest while the more active ones explore the gardens.
Posted by
Western WA
113 posts
You don't go back up the stairs, but exit thru a lite tunnel that is clearly marked. The initiation well is on a hill, so going down the well in a way takes you down the hill. It's been a few years since I've been there though.
Posted by
California 🦋
5334 posts
Tina,
I would not recommend going down the initiation well for anyone who has difficulty with stairs. The well has a spiral staircase and once one reaches the bottom, you walk thru tunnels and then you exit at a small pond with a waterfall and one must deal with stepping stones over the water to exit the well.
You can read more about it here.
Enjoy your time in beautiful Portugal!
Posted by
2994 posts
We went to the gardens and did not do the well. There was a long line and so we skipped it. I just want to say the gardens are very worthwhile even without the well.