Category: Nature > Garden
District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Santo António > São José
Located in Praça da Alegria, in the heart of the Santo António area, in Lisbon, the Alfredo Keil Garden is situated in an area that develops on a slight slope. Its position allows for a visual and physical connection with the urban surroundings, including proximity to Praça da Alegria and a discreet opening to the Avenida da Liberdade area, to the east. This green space is integrated into the city's dynamic, functioning as a tranquil refuge in the lower third of the slope west of the Avenue.
The garden is contained within this square, offering a point of pause in Lisbon's more bustling urban context. It is classified as an integral part of the Avenida da Liberdade protection area and the Águas Livres Aqueduct protection zone.
The history of this garden dates back to 1882. It was conceived on a site that once, between 1809 and 1835, served as the venue for Feira da Ladra (the Thieves' Market), before its relocation. Before becoming the garden we know today, the area was a somewhat neglected square, located on the slope.
Its organic layout and its placement in this location defined its initial character. The garden was named after Alfredo Keil, paying tribute to this prominent figure in Portuguese culture.
The Alfredo Keil Garden features a romantic design, conceived for leisure and contemplation. Its layout, with organic shapes in the flowerbeds and paths, invites a relaxing stroll.
Despite being in the city center, the dense tree cover that delimits it gives it a more secluded and intimate atmosphere, creating a space where one can slow down and enjoy a moment of outdoor tranquility.
In the center of the garden, a lake with a fountain stands out, a water feature that contributes to the serenity of the place. Winding paths traverse the space, flanked by benches that invite rest and observation of the surroundings.
The flowerbeds, with their free forms, are sometimes delimited by small metal railings and filled with grass and shrubs, including areas with roses that add color to the scenery. Two notable palm trees mark a visual axis, directing the gaze outwards from the garden.
The garden is named in honor of Alfredo Keil, a multifaceted figure of 19th-century Portuguese culture, recognized as a painter, poet, and, above all, as the composer of the music for "A Portuguesa," the national anthem.
To perpetuate his memory in this space, a bronze bust dedicated to him can be found. This sculpture was created by Teixeira Lopes and inaugurated in 1957.
The garden is valued for its plant diversity, with dense tree cover that provides shade. Among the species present are plane trees, elms, hackberries, coral trees, and palm trees.
Some of these trees hold special significance, having been individually classified as trees of public interest, forming part of a group of nine notable trees within the garden. This classification, attributed in 2017 to the tree ensemble, underlines the natural value of this space.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.7178708,-9.1452052
Coordinates DMS: 38°43'4.3"N 09°08'42.7"W
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