EDUARDO VII PARK

Description

Essentials about Eduardo VII Park in brief

If you need a little time out from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon’s streets and alleys in the green, you should make your way to Parque Eduardo VII (Eduardo VII Park). With an area of around 25 hectares, Eduardo VII Park is the largest inner-city green space in the Portuguese capital. The park is located at the northern end of the boulevard Avenida da Liberdade, directly behind the large traffic circle of Praça Marquês de Pombal. Due to its location on a hill, from Eduardo VII Park you can also enjoy a beautiful view over the Baixa district (Lower Town) down to the São Jorge Castle and the Tagus River.

The name “Eduardo VII Park”

The park was named after the British King Edward VII, who visited Portugal in 1903. To symbolize the good relations between Portugal and the United Kingdom, the Lisbon City Council named the park after His Royal Highness.

The layout and parts of Eduardo VII Park

Eduardo VII Park was designed by Portuguese architect Francisco Keil do Amaral and is a masterpiece of horticultural architecture. The park has the shape of a trapezoid and impresses with its symmetry and order. Numerous symmetrically arranged hedges give the green area a very orderly character.

On the northwestern side of the park is the Garden of Greenhouses, opened in 1933, with a total of three greenhouses: The first is the Estufa Fria (cold greenhouse), where many exotic plants grow, for which the Lisbon climate is conducive. The second is the glazed Estufa Quente (hot greenhouse), which is home to tropical plants that require warmer climatic conditions. And the third is the Estufa Doce, the smallest of the three with many cacti and succulents.

Also on the northwest side of the park are a carp pond and a playground. On the western side of the park, the Pavilhão Carlos Lopes, opened in 1932, hosts sporting events. At the northern end of the park is the monument designed by João Cutileiro to the Carnation Revolution, the military coup against the authoritarian dictatorship in 1974. Throughout the year, numerous events are held at Eduardo VII Park, including the Feira do Livro, a regional book fair.