The house was constructed in 1904 by the wealthy Portuguese businessman Carvalho Monterro which gave rise to the residences local name of “Palace of the Monteiro Millionaire”. The house was constructed over 6 years but on the death of Carvalho Monterro the house was purchased by Waldemar d’Orey. It stayed within the family until 1987 when it was bought by a Japanese business for private functions. Sintra local government reclaimed this important national monument it 1997 and opened it to the public in 1998.