Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Coímbra

Created in 1772 on the initiative of the Marquis of Pombal as part of the university reform, the Botanical Garden of Coimbra is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Portugal. Its thirteen hectares cascade in terraces from the São Sebastião aqueduct down towards the Mondego, combining an elegant formal garden with fountains and grand staircases, a majestic 19th-century iron and glass greenhouse, and a forest of bamboo and exotic trees brought from all over the world. It is an oasis of calm just a few steps from the university city, perfect for a stroll amidst scientific history and nature. Admission to the garden is free; some areas, such as the greenhouse, may have their own opening hours or guided tours. 📷 Photographs courtesy of Vitor Oliveira, PORTUGAL (CC BY 2.0) and Hugo Ferreira (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.