Ajuda Botanical Garden

Ajuda Botanical Garden

The Ajuda Botanical Garden was the first botanical garden in Portugal and the fifteenth in Europe. Founded in 1768, by order of the Marquis of Pombal during the reign of King José, it was designed by the Italian botanist Domenico Vandelli, who came from Padua and was put in charge of laying out and directing the works beside the Ajuda Palace. Covering almost four hectares, it is set on two terraces with a 6.8-metre difference in level, joined by stone stairways, with box-hedge parterres, a baroque central fountain, the pond and the Fountain of the 40 Spouts, home to the collection of aquatic plants, and a wide view over the Tagus and the 25 de Abril Bridge. Among its most famous trees is the old dragon tree, which the artist João Fazenda portrayed on the 2-euro coin marking the garden's 250th anniversary. It has belonged to the Instituto Superior de Agronomia since 1910 and was restored between 1993 and 1997, with the support of the European Heritage Conservation Award and under the direction of Professor Cristina Castel-Branco. Today it is a place for walking and for study, with plants from all over the world.

Located at: Instituto Superior de Agronomia
Address: Calçada da Ajuda, 1300-011 Lisboa
Opening hours: April and October 10:00-17:00 (weekends and public holidays until 18:00); May to September 10:00-18:00 (weekends and public holidays until 20:00); November to March 10:00-17:00 (closed on 25 December and 1 January)
Phone: +351 213 653 157
Coordinates: 38.7062236, -9.1992354
Buses: 729, 760, 742, 732, 727
Tram: 18E
Opened: 1768 (258 years)