Visiting the Jardins da Quinta das Lágrimas during our anniversary trip felt like stepping into the very heart of a legend. These gardens, a lush and poetic landscape in Coimbra, are more than a mere botanical haven—they are steeped in a love story that transcends time.

When we decided to follow the Rota de Inês e Pedro—the path of Portugal’s most famous tragic lovers—Patrícia and I were drawn to this place where romance, nature, and history are intertwined. The garden hides secrets within its leafy corners, and it’s here that the story of Prince Pedro and his beloved Inês de Castro unfolds.

But beyond the tale that lives in every stone and stream, it’s the Fonte das Lágrimas (Fountain of Tears) that captured us most. According to legend, the very water that flows here is born from the tears of Inês, shed when she was killed by assassins at the king’s command. The story tells that nature itself wept alongside her. To stand by this fountain, with its waters trickling gently, is to feel the weight of centuries of love and loss.

There are curiosities hidden in these gardens that you won’t find anywhere else. For instance, few know that the Cano dos Amores, an ancient canal still visible today, was commissioned by a queen in the 14th century to bring water to the convent nearby. The trees themselves are like sentinels of time: towering sequoias and the exotic Ficus macrophylla stand as if guarding the secrets of the past .

For us, the most profound moment was reflecting by the Fonte dos Amores, where Pedro and Inês once met in secret. It’s impossible not to be moved by the history here, where love and politics collided, leading to Inês’s tragic death and Pedro’s eternal vow of vengeance and devotion. Their story has been immortalized not just in literature, but in the very air that fills these gardens.

While the entry fee is modest, it’s a small price to pay for the sense of stepping into a legend. And though we left the Quinta, a part of our hearts remains within those walls, entwined with Pedro and Inês’s eternal story.

Tip: Plan your visit in the late afternoon, when the light dapples through the trees, making it even easier to believe that the ghost of Inês still walks among the shadows, searching for her lost love.