It’s impossible to take it all in, the almost fairytale beauty of the Crystal Palace Gardens, and to think it’s only a five-minute walk from our front door in Porto.
Occupying about 20 acres on a massive bluff overlooking the Douro River, the gardens were once the site of the Palácio de Cristal, inspired by London’s Crystal Palace and built in the late 19th century for Porto’s International Exhibition. Razed in the 1950s to make way for a modern sports arena, the elegant structure is no longer, but the gardens remain.
You can read more of the Palace’s history here. Or just enjoy the photos from my afternoon “me-time.”
I wasn’t the only one enjoying the sunshine in this beloved landmark.
Even the seagulls like it.
Tulips are in full bloom.
Roosters and peacocks roam freely.
Young couples, too.
Friends chill.
And students from the University of Porto, which is all around us in the part of town where we live, gather in their standard uniforms–the robes that inspired the ones worn by Hogwarts students in the Harry Potter books. Read a little more background on that here.
Ted and I have been so busy getting settled into our new life and new digs during our first four months in Porto, that it takes discipline sometimes to pause and remember where we are, the beauty and the history around us.
To set it all aside, put on the walking shoes and stroll down Rua de Miguel Bombarda to the Crystal Palace Gardens, where the gates are open all day.
Admission is free.
And no matter how many visitors are present, there is always a bench available … to sit and stay a while.
Mike Coleman 