Jardim José do Canto by Avieira67
According to E. Goeze, in the 19th century, José do Canto Garden was considered the greatest private botanical garden of Europe.In this garden, owned by the same family for more than 17 generations, several buildings exist today: a ?Vicorian? greenhouse (adapted to Parties Pavillion); the chapel of Sant?Ana (17th century); a Manorhouse of the 18th century; and, the Palace, which construction began in the 40?s (the old house (16th century) of the estate had fallen in ruins as a consequence of a earthquake.
The palace was conceived in strict obedience of the neo-classic precepts of the Italian Andrea Palladio (1508-1580). The whole structure is made of basalt stones blocks cut into big parallelepipeds or cubes: about 3500 masonry ornamental stones were cut by hand. Woods used include acacia, old criptomeria, cedar and hard woods from trees that fallen with storms in the Park.
The garden is made up of several thousand species of plants, all of which were imported from nurserymen around the world. José do Canto was a hard working enthusiast who even had a list of species he did not want to grow in order to create his perfect garden! The Garden and the buildings have been classified as of public interest. It is registred with the ?Botanic Gardens Conservation Secretariat?, an organ depending from UNESCO.
Timetable
10:00 ? 19:00 May ? October
10:00 to sunset November ? April
Entrance Fee
? 3
