Elisa Baptista Sousa Pedroso Garden

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Lapa

Location

Situated in the parish of Estrela, in Lisbon, this garden is located in the Lapa area. It occupies a triangular area that extends along Rua da Imprensa à Estrela. It is delimited by walls that separate it from the garden of the São Bento Manor House and a space belonging to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, giving it a particular integration into the urban environment.

An Urban Oasis of Tranquility

Despite its central location in Lisbon, this garden offers an atmosphere of serenity. With a triangular area, the space is characterized by its lawns and large trees that provide shade and coolness. It invites visitors to pause and rest on the benches arranged along the Portuguese pavement paths that crisscross the garden. A small lake, accompanied by a fountain that is no longer operational, contributes to the tranquil atmosphere of the place. Its open nature, without fences, allows for easy interaction with the surrounding urban environment.

Homage to a Pianist

The official name of the garden is a tribute to Elisa Baptista de Sousa Pedroso (1876-1958), a distinguished Portuguese pianist and musicologist. With an internationally acclaimed career, Elisa Pedroso dedicated herself to the dissemination and recognition of Portuguese composers' music abroad. Her influence extended to the founding of the Círculo de Cultura Musical and the organization of symphonic concerts, establishing herself as a central figure in promoting musical culture in Portugal. The garden's name reflects the recognition of her legacy and her contribution to the country's artistic and cultural life.

A Past with History

The history of the Elisa Baptista Sousa Pedroso Garden dates back to its creation around 1930, on land that once belonged to the old conventual enclosure of the São Bento Monastery, now the Assembly of the Republic. A significant episode in its past is linked to the presence, between 1955 and 1974, of a sculpture by Leopoldo de Almeida. This work, named "The Portuguese Women Grateful to Salazar", was subsequently removed, marking a historical transition in the space. Due to different phases of its existence, the garden was also popularly known as "Salazar Garden" or "Imprensa Garden", names that reflect its evolution and relationship with the city's history.

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