Jardim dos Jotas

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Aleixo

Location

The Jardim dos Jotas is located in the city of Porto, in the Aleixo area. This harmonious green space is integrated into the broader environment of the Porto Botanical Garden, offering a tranquil spot within the urban landscape. Its position allows visitors to enjoy a serene and well-maintained environment, characteristic of the city's historic gardens.

The Origin of the Name and Its Layout

The unique name "Jardim dos Jotas" has a family history connected to its creation. It results from the union of the initials of Joana Lehman and João Henrique Andresen. Joana Lehman, grandmother of the renowned writer Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, was responsible for the design and layout of the elaborate boxwood composition that still defines the garden today. This detail gives the place a sense of continuity and a unique family heritage.

Landscape Characteristics

The Jardim dos Jotas is distinguished by its careful conception, which evokes the aesthetic of classic and ancient gardens. Its central structure is defined by a complex organization of boxwood beds. Strolling along its paths, one can observe a diversity of tree species, such as lindens, birches, oaks, magnolias, and plane trees, which contribute to the richness of the landscape. The garden also includes rose gardens and orchards, as well as long paths flanked by trimmed camellia hedges. A wisteria-covered pergola and tile-covered benches invite contemplation, reinforcing the traditional atmosphere of the space.

A Space of Literary Inspiration

This garden has a remarkable connection to Portuguese literature. It was one of the major sources of inspiration for the work of the writer Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, who described it in her book "The Bronze Boy". The references present in her writing mirror the garden's characteristics, namely the boxwood, the tiles, and the pergola, giving the place added cultural and symbolic value. This connection allows visitors to the Jardim dos Jotas a deeper appreciation and a unique perspective on one of the spaces that shaped the imagination of one of the greatest voices in national literature.

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