Parque Botânico do Monteiro-Mor — Attraction in Lisbon

Exuberant botanical park that unfolds along the edge the Lumiar's plateau, facing north into one branch of the Loures' valley, at the northern edge of Lisbon's municipality.

The site was originally an estate belonging to the Major Royal Huntsman (Monteiro-mor), of which it kept the name. Eventually the estate came to belong to the Marquis of Angeja who, in the 18c ordered the plantation of the Botanical Park with rare species, under supervision of the italian botanist Domenico Vandelli. In 1840 the estate was acquired by Duke of Palmela, and remained in this family until it was sold to the Portuguese State in 1975. During this period, the Botanical Garden acquired most of its actual features, with the addition of more rare species, ponds, etc.

Together with the Museum of Costume, and the Museum of Theater and Dance, they form a spectacular 18c palatial unit, a typical recreation palace on the outskirts of the city, where the nobility would retreat into when wanted to get away from the city.

The Park has several parts, with a french topiary garden, fountains, english picturesque garden areas, woods, orchards, etc.

Better maintenance is necessairy in some parts of the park, but its "rundowness" adds a bit of a picturesque charm too.

The Park never gets crowded, and it is a great place to wander freely, find peace and calm.

Entrance may be acquired together with a visit to the museums, or separate. It is free for citizens on Sundays.

Because of its steep topography, there are plenty of stairs, irregular paths, and it is not wheelchair accessible. I have seen people with baby carts, although there were parts in which the cart had to be...

È situato alla periferia nord di Lisbona, nel bairro di Lumiar, un tempo popolato da Quinte e residenze di campagna, molte delle quali ancora esistenti come la Quinta dos Azulejos. Il parco è costituito dai giardini della Quinta do Monteiro-Mor dove si trovano il Palácio Angeja-Palmela e il Palácio Monteiro-Mor, oggi sede del Museu Nacional do Traje (Museo del Costume), e del Museu Nacional do Teatro: per accedervi bisogna quindi pagare il biglietto di uno dei due musei. Il parco, di undici ettari, risale al XVIII secolo, quando Dom Pedro José de Noronha de Albuquerque Moniz e Sousa, terzo marchese di Angeja (1716-1788), ereditò il palazzo: egli è ricordato per essere il successore del Marques de Pombal come primo ministro del regno. Illustre statista e naturalista, mise insieme una magnifica collezione di animali imbalsamati, minerali, fossili, pezzi etnografici e numerose opere d'arte; come naturale complemento, invitò il celebre botanico italiano Domenico Vandelli (1730-1816), a creare un giardino botanico. Il parco sfrutta i dislivelli naturali della collina, assai scoscesa in questa zona, con un susseguirsi di scalinate e terrazze che spettacolarizzano una parte del giardino. Le terrazze sono spesso abbellite da fontane, vasche e sculture e risentono del gusto dei giardini all’italiana. Interessanti sono anche i due palazzi all’interno del parco, che sono in comunicazione tra loro. A lato del Palácio Monteiro-Mor, si trovano una serie di aiuole a disegni geometrici sullo stile dei giardini...

A hidden jewel is Lisbon for sure. Empty most of the time with average size fields that are normally always empty. Besides the forest and gardens. Amazying place if you want to have a super relax time. The main reason is mostly empty and their biggest fault is the high price of 3 euros to get in, and the fact that they close always at 6pm that in summer seems really early for a park. Sundays is free until 2pm but it is a bit more busy with families with kids staying in...