Deep underground wells have a mysterious beauty, full of traces of time.
Photographer Istvan Kadar (Toronto) visited the Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira castle in Sintra, Portugal.
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| The mysterious Initiation Well. |
When he saw the wells, Istvan Kadar was always impressed by the combination of darkness and light.
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| The mystical combination of light and dark. |
Istvan Kadar said: "Looking down into the Initiation Well, there is a mysterious past that fills me with emotion. The contrast between the darkness inside and the light of hope from above makes me think of hell and heaven. I wonder what mysteries are hidden there - a place of passion, fanaticism, power, crime, secrets... that has covered the walls with layers of moss. What dark souls still walk the corridors, covered in darkness?".
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| The walls were covered with moss. |
There are two wells deep underground. One well has a spiral staircase 27 meters deep, with 9 levels, reminiscent of the 9 circles of hell. At the bottom of the well is a directional chart, with a cross in the middle representing Freemasonry. The smaller well is made into a straight staircase connecting the levels in a circular pattern. The wells are not for storing water but are instead used for various rituals, including Tarot rituals.
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| At the bottom of the well there is a chart showing the direction, in the middle is a cross. |
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| Looking down from above into the well, many people will be shocked by its depth. |
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| Spiral staircase of the well. |
Quinta da Regaleira Castle was built in the 20th century and belonged to the family of the Viscount Regaleira before being sold to a wealthy merchant, Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. He also invested a lot of time and money in restoring the castle. Quinta da Regaleira Castle is dotted with lakes, caves, large buildings and fountains, of which the Initiation Wells is a major tourist attraction.
“When I was in Lisbon, Portugal, I heard about the Quinta da Regaleira castle and the beautiful, mystical places in Sintra. I have always been fascinated by mysterious, dark abandoned places. I needed to make a trip right away to see this magical place,” said Istvan Kadar.
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| The wells were used for rituals rather than water storage. |
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| The walking trail leads to the bottom of the well. |
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| Quinta da Regaleira Castle with many beautiful views. |
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| Very little is known about the wells to this day. |
According to NLĐ
