Jorge Luis Borges Garden / Arco do Cego Garden

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Campo Pequeno

Location

This green space is located in the Campo Pequeno area, in Lisbon, an area with great urban dynamism. The garden is bordered by Avenida João Crisóstomo, Rua Dona Filipa de Vilhena, and Avenida Duque d’Ávila, constituting a tranquil refuge in the heart of the city.

Its location allows visitors to enjoy a moment of pause and contemplation, framed by the surrounding Lisbon architecture, offering a serene environment for those seeking a green retreat.

Literary Homage

The garden was named after Jorge Luis Borges in 2009, in a gesture that marked the 110th anniversary of the acclaimed Argentinian writer's birth. This toponymic attribution is a way to recognize and perpetuate the memory of one of the most influential names in world literature.

In this location, visitors can find a Memorial to Borges, a work by Federico Brook. This sculpture, donated by Casa da América Latina, serves as a point of reference and reflection on the writer's legacy, integrating harmoniously into the garden's environment.

The Legacy of a Universal Writer

Jorge Luis Borges, considered one of the Argentinian writers of greatest universal renown, had a connection to Portugal through his paternal family roots, originating from Torre de Moncorvo. The author, who claimed to possess a Portuguese way of feeling the universe, was honored in Portugal with the Order of Santiago da Espada and the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Coimbra, which highlights his deep connection with Portuguese culture.

Blind from 1956 onwards, Borges was a prolific poet, essayist, and translator, in addition to having directed the National Library of Argentina. His famous quote "I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library" resonates in this space, inviting meditation and reading. The writer visited Lisbon in 1929 and again in 1980, cementing his relationship with the city that today pays him this singular homage.

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