Infante Dom Pedro Park

Category: Nature > Park

District: Aveiro > Aveiro > Aveiro > Glória

Location

Located in the parish of Glória, in the city of Aveiro, Parque Infante Dom Pedro is a central green space that integrates harmoniously into the urban fabric. It functions as a vast green lung of the city, connecting Baixa de Santo António to other areas via an iron pedestrian bridge. Its central location makes it an easily accessible landmark for those exploring Aveiro, offering a natural retreat in the heart of the locality.

Historical Memory and Evolution

Parque Infante Dom Pedro has deep roots in Aveiro's history, dating back to 1861, when the then Mayor, Firmino Maia, transformed the "Campo de Santo António" (Saint Anthony's Field) into a "Passeio Público" (Public Promenade). This field was part of the lands surrounding the old Convent of Santo António, cultivated by the friars. With tree-lined avenues and elaborate flowerbeds, it was considered one of Portugal's first and most beautiful public gardens. Later, in 1927, the park was expanded and inaugurated, adopting a configuration closer to its present form. Its history also links it to a popular name, "Parque da Macaca" (Monkey Park), a curious reference to the past existence of enclosures with birds and monkeys.

Architectural and Artistic Details

Parque Infante Dom Pedro is punctuated by elements that enhance its beauty and cultural value. A pergola-type colonnade stands out, connecting to a double staircase and an artificial grotto that serve as a link between the park's different levels. The Casa de Chá (Tea House), a prominent building from the 1920s, offers a privileged view over the park's main lake. Further up, one can find an Art Nouveau bandstand and an imposing hexagonal tower, once a water reservoir, which today functions as an observation point over the city. Beneath the staircases connecting the two parts of the park, a grotto and a set of tile panels, dating from the early 1930s, illustrate daily and typical scenes of Aveiro life, such as seaweed harvesting (moliço) and fishing in the Ria.

Botanical Richness

As the city's largest green space, the park hosts an impressive botanical collection. Its extensive area is home to a remarkable diversity of trees, both native species and specimens from distant origins. Among the arboreal variety, noteworthy species include the Holly (Ilex aquifolium), a rare and protected tree of significant size, and several Ginkgo trees (Ginkgo biloba), originating from China and Japan, known as "living fossils" due to their evolutionary antiquity. Walking along its wide avenues offers the opportunity to appreciate this rich plant collection.

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