Arnado Theme Park

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Viana do Castelo > Ponte de Lima > Arcozelo > Arnado

Location

Situated in the Arnado area, in Arcozelo, municipality of Ponte de Lima, the park is harmoniously integrated into an area that embraces and values the banks of the Lima River. Its location offers a tranquil environment and close contact with the natural landscape and the surrounding locality.

A Journey Through the Art of Gardens

The Arnado Thematic Park invites visitors to a unique exploration of the history of garden art, highlighting the evolution of the humanized landscape over time. The park's concept is based on the idea of tracing a path through different garden styles, whose roots are deeply linked to the region's rural tradition. To achieve this, structures from an old agricultural farm have been skillfully reused, transforming cultivated fields into erudite settings that illustrate distinct eras.

Elements characteristic of rural culture, such as vine-covered pergolas, old irrigation systems with granite channels and a noria, or even the threshing floor and granary, remain visible and integrated into the park's design, serving as a link between agricultural heritage and garden art.

Historical and Thematic Settings

Within the park, visitors will find carefully recreated gardens that have marked different periods of history. The Roman Garden, for example, is inspired by the architecture and symbolism of ancient Roman garden spaces, with its colonnades and the central presence of water. The Portuguese pavement mosaic floors reflect the lasting influence of Roman culture on local art.

The Labyrinth Garden, built on terraces, evokes the classical symbolism of labyrinths in Western culture. A metal structure adorned with jasmines serves as a viewpoint, providing not only views over the garden but also an atmosphere of well-being, enhanced by the scents that perfume the air. Following this is the Renaissance Garden, which illustrates the geometric precision and the importance of water and sculpture in the gardens of the 15th and 16th centuries. The waterfalls and water features are a testament to the hydraulic sophistication of the time.

The progression culminates in the Baroque Garden, which exalts the art of topiary and the complex ornamental forms of boxwood, known as parterres. The water mirrors are a distinctive element, designed to extend perspectives and create impressive visual effects, reflecting the grandeur of this period in garden history.

Botanical Heritage

The Arnado Thematic Park also includes a Botanical Garden, designed for educational and conservation purposes. Here, it is possible to observe a diversity of plant species, organized in a way that facilitates their identification. The garden is divided into areas dedicated to herbaceous plants and grasses, as well as aquatic plants in a pond that surrounds the main greenhouse.

Inside the Greenhouse, visitors discover plants that require specific climatic conditions to thrive, many of which are now common in indoor environments. This space complements the experience, offering insight into botanical diversity and the study of plants.

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