Located near the historic center of the city of Sintra (Portugal) is the Vacation Specials, an eccentric palace from the early XNUMXth century, built by the Portuguese millionaire Antonio Augusto Carvalho, a building considered one of the main tourist attractions in Sintra. This property is made up of a romantic palace and a chapel located next to a luxurious park that has ponds, fountains, caves and a great variety of ornamental constructions inside.
On the land occupied by an old farm from the late seventeenth century, the Portuguese Carvalho Monteiro (1848-1920), a wealthy businessman adept at esotericism and Freemasonry, ordered the construction of this architectural ensemble which is surprising for its eclecticism, since it mixes various styles, such as Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline. The architecture of the complex and its different ornamentation have meanings related to esotericism, such as alchemy, Freemasonry, the Templars and the Rosicrucians.
The facade of the palace is characterized by its markedly Gothic pinnacles, gargoyles, pronounced capitals and the impressive octagonal tower. This entire palace complex offers the visitor an exciting tour where the esoteric symbolisms, Masonic and mythological, such as the Greco-Roman gardens, the Grotto of Leda, the Regaleira tower and the mythical initiation well.