Exploring Portugal's Historic Gardens - Northern Portugal - Travel Tailors
When you think of Portugal, it’s probably not the gardens that spring to mind, but in a country with such a rich history, its gardens are more than just green space. They’re a slice of paradise and a window into Portugal’s history, often attached to intriguing cultural sites - plus they provide an escape from the bustling beaches and cities across the country.
Portugal by TravelTailors is a luxury DMC that offers a series of 2-day modules that can be integrated into your tailor-made itineraries or even grouped together to make a specialist trip. These modules take in some of Portugal’s most fascinating gardens and are often paired with vineyard visits and tours of historical homes. Let's delve into these hidden gems.
Here are some of Travel Tailors’ favourite gardens that you can add to your next Portugal itinerary.
Lima Valley
This charming valley in the north of Portugal is dotted with ancient towns and churches. Travel back along the River Lima to the Peneda-Gerês mountains, passing sleepy settlements and vibrant markets. There’s plenty to explore on foot or by bike - especially if you’re here for the views - but the region is also rich with history, vineyards, and gardens.
Paço de Vitorino
Home to Baroque gardens, a chapel and a wine press, there’s plenty to explore here. Get lost in a maze of walled gardens, filled with statues, orchards, olive groves and an impressive collection of camellias. If you love it you can also stay in the main manor house which is also a hotel.
Paço de Calheiros Gardens
The estate offers dramatic scenery across the village and Lima Valley from its vantage point in the hills. Huge landscaped terraces boast wide views across the vineyards and gardens, while lower down the hillside, it’s easy to get lost in the forest, orchards and vegetable gardens. The majestic manor house is also a hotel and a member of Solares de Portugal.
Douro Valley
The world has woken up to the beauty of Portugal’s Douro Valley, one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions. Winding mountain roads and picture-perfect villages are set to a backdrop of vineyards and granite bluffs. It’s the perfect place to forget about your troubles as you sip on port and vinho verde, visiting the region’s historical wine cellars and gardens.
Gardens of Casa dos Viscondes da Várzea
This estate covers more than 180 hectares of gardens, orchards, ponds, and olive groves. But the piece de resistance here is the vineyards, which are open to the public. A tour of the estate would not be complete without a sampling of wine, olive oil and fresh bread.
Quinta de Vale de Abraão (now Six Senses Douro Valley)
Right on the Douro River, Quinta de Vale de Abraão was the house of a nobleman in the 18th Century. Throughout the centuries, the house passed from family to family in the ranks of nobility and has even been immortalised in the literary works of Agustina Bessa Luis, until in 2013, it was bought by the Six Senses Hotel Group. The old house was transformed into a hotel but the gardens remain an impressive sight. A vast estate with orange groves, native and exotic trees, landscaped forest and panoramic river views awaits.
Dão and Central Portugal
A paradise of pine and eucalyptus forests in central Portugal, the Dão wine-making region is all about the views and vineyards. The river cuts through the landscape, creating a dramatic gorge and the Serra da Estrela mountain range forms a stunning and rugged backdrop. It’s also home to some truly unique gardens, a perfect way to while away an afternoon and dive into the area’s culture.
Santar Vila Jardim Project
The Santar Vila Jantar Project interconnects a series of neighbouring gardens in the village of Santar. This unique experience was created by landscape gardener Fernando Caruncho and each space is its own world, bursting with different blooms and a mix of local and tropical vegetation. In the centre of the project is a boutique hotel tasting room, where visitors can pause for a moment and enhance their visit with wine and cheese pairings.
Palace and Gardens of the Counts of Anadia
This 18th Century manor house is a fine example of Baroque architecture that’s filled with items of fascination for visitors, including historical costumes, porcelain and a vast collection of artwork. The gardens are stunning and explore different zones, ranging from practical to pure leisure. A visit here can also include a wine tasting at the on-site Adega Histórica do Palácio.
Coimbra's Botanical Garden
Exploring the Botanical Gardens of Coimbra is a journey through the ages of botany, history and architecture. It’s easy to get lost amongst the greenhouses and gardens as you search for species from across the globe.
Braga
Churches abound in Braga, Portugal’s most important religious centre. There are extravagant monasteries, immaculately landscaped gardens, and, of course, more vineyards. Learn about the region’s long history of battles and religious tales as you venture into its prettiest areas of green space.
Quinta de Curvos
Step into the fairytale grounds of Quinta de Curvos, a historic wine estate that’s the stuff of legend. Discover hidden corners, mysterious grottos and caves, expansive gardens, turrets and bridges - all of which add to the enchanting feel of this place. And to add to the magic of its grounds, the estate produces popular wines. Taste a selection of Vinho Verdes and Douro Wines, surrounded by picture-perfect scenes.
Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a thing of beauty. The Sanctuary itself is nothing short of impressive - a huge staircase leads up to the entrance, surrounded by lush gardens. You could easily spend hours here, strolling through the gardens and parks, wandering around the lake and through hidden grottos, getting lost in the woods, and exploring the bell tower and chapels.
More than just gardens, these historical estates, palaces, vineyards and parks can add intrigue and nature to any trip to Portugal. And there are many more, in the regions listed above and beyond. For more tips on adding these historic gardens to your clients’ trips, we recommend a conversation with Portugal by TravelTailors, who know Portugal inside and out. We’d love to put you in touch - you can message us here!