José do Canto Garden

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Açores > Ponta Delgada > Ponta Delgada > São Sebastião

Location

The José do Canto Garden is located in the city of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, Azores. It is situated in the São Sebastião area, offering a tranquil refuge in the heart of the Azorean capital. Its central location allows for easy exploration of the urban surroundings, while remaining an accessible green lung within the city.

The Creation of a Unique Garden

The history of this botanical garden is intrinsically linked to the vision and dedication of José do Canto, one of the most influential and learned men of São Miguel in the 19th century. The lands that constitute it today were inherited by his wife, D. Maria Guilhermina Taveira de Neiva Frias Brum da Silveira, whose family ties date back twenty generations on the island. Driven by his profound passion for botany, José do Canto commissioned the design of the park and palace in London in 1843 from David Mocatta. For about fifty years, José do Canto dedicated himself to the expansion and enrichment of the garden, ceaselessly seeking and acquiring plant species from various parts of the world.

A Botanical Legacy of International Recognition

The José do Canto Garden came to host over 6000 plant species, an impressive botanical richness for its time, which remains to this day. This vast collection was meticulously documented by José do Canto himself in a detailed catalog. Its exceptional value was recognized internationally, with the garden being classified as a Property of Public Interest and included in the World Guide of Botanical Gardens. In 1866, Dr. Edmond Goeze, then director of the Coimbra Botanical Garden, visited the site and was profoundly impressed by the diversity and care, taking with him a significant number of species to enrich the Coimbra collection, attesting to the importance of the work carried out here.

Experience and Landscaping

When walking through the José do Canto Garden, visitors can enjoy an environment of peace and contemplation. Its avenues and paths largely preserve the layout of the original 19th-century design, inviting a relaxing stroll amidst a vast diversity of flora. The monumental stature of many of its trees, some exotic and others originating from temperate and subtropical regions, creates a lush and enveloping atmosphere. Inside the garden, the José do Canto Palace, with its Palladian-style architecture, stands out as a prominent built element. Furthermore, the old Chapel of Sant'Ana, founded in 1624, and a picturesque waterfall contribute to the scenic beauty and cultural interest of the place.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt