'Guardians of the Penumbra' at Quinta da Regaleira
The Quinta da Regaleira is the palace and surrounding four-hectare gardens built by António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, a Portuguese millionaire, between 1904-10 in Sintra, Portugal.
He employed the Italian architect Luigi Manini to create the neo-Manueline main house and to design the gardens which are filled with curious buildings, follies, grottoes, towers and tunnels - such as the sculpture seen here. These two lizard-like creatures are said to symbolise the 'guardians of the penumbra'. They stand in front of an arched opening which leads into a subterranean tunnel.
The design of the garden is said to represent an initiate's metaphysical journey through the cosmos towards enlightenment.
'Guardians of the Penumbra' at Quinta da Regaleira
The Quinta da Regaleira is the palace and surrounding four-hectare gardens built by António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, a Portuguese millionaire, between 1904-10 in Sintra, Portugal.
He employed the Italian architect Luigi Manini to create the neo-Manueline main house and to design the gardens which are filled with curious buildings, follies, grottoes, towers and tunnels - such as the sculpture seen here. These two lizard-like creatures are said to symbolise the 'guardians of the penumbra'. They stand in front of an arched opening which leads into a subterranean tunnel.
The design of the garden is said to represent an initiate's metaphysical journey through the cosmos towards enlightenment.