Daniel Gildemeester was a netherlandish consul who worked and lived in Lisbon in the eighteenth century. He belonged to the intellectual circles of the Marquis of Pombal. He was also involved in several different businesses, including diamonds, which contributed greatly to his fortune. He was among the many English Romantics who discovered Sintra and fell in love with it. He bought a property that included a rye and cherry field, levelled it, and erected a palace for himself, the Palace of Seteais. Originally built in a U-shape, although this part of the building is now gone, this immense construction, which sits on a slope, was meant to take advantage of the breathtaking views of Sintra. The Palace was inaugurated on 25 July 1787, with William Beckford attending the event. He describes in his diaries the dark, rough roads leading to the palace, the gloominess of its interior, the simplicity of its walls and overall decoration, and finally, the lavish buffet served to every guest!