Camellia gardens in Portugal

The International Camellia Society
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Portugal's Camellia Regions and Points of Interest

1 - PONTE DE LIMA:
Casa Conde de Aurora; Palacio de Bertiandos
2 - VIANA DO CASTELO:
Santa Luzia
3 - BRAGA:
Casa Avelar; Palacio dos Biscainhos; Casa do Castelo; Bom Jesus
4 - BARCELOS:
Quinta de Curvos
5 - GUIMARAES:
Convento da Costa
6 - CELORICO DE BASTO:
Casa do Campo (famous for the sculptures made of Camellia trees); Casa da Gandarela; Quinta do Prado
7 - SANTO TIRSO:
Jardins Municipais; Escola Agricola; Casa do Casal
8 - PENAFIEL:
Quinta da Aveleda
9 - MARCO DE CANAVEZES:
Vila Boa de Quires
10 - PORTO:
Jardins Municipais; Quinta da China; Casa de Serralves; Fundacio Antonio de Almeida; Palacio de Cristal; Casa Tait; Viveiros Moreira da Silva; Viveiros da Camara Municipal
11 - VILA NOVA DE GAIA:
Casa dos Condes de Campobello (allegedly the oldest Camellia tree in Portugal)
12 - PENALVA DO CASTELO:
Quinta da Insula
13 - SANTAR:
Casa dos Condes de Santar
14 - NELAS
15 - SEIA
16 - SINTRA:
Jardins de Monserrate
17 - SERRA DE MONCHIQUE:
Albergaria Abrigo da Montanha

Comment:
The northern part of Portugal is said to provide the best climatic conditions for camellias in all Europe. In fact, the region around PORTO and BRAGA has an Atlantic climate and a lot of rain. The region is quite hilly and has peak elevations up to 1,400 m (4,600 ft). The original oak and chestnut trees are almost gone and have been replaced by eucalyptus, which thrive well. Camellias are found, together with citrus, as house trees in almost any yard. Camellias ten years old measure more then 2 meters (nearly 7 ft).

Portugal has a long tradition in tree pruning: almost everything is pruned. This tradition stems from the old idea that a garden in its elements should reflect architecture. It is thus not surprising to find also old camellia formal gardens, where the trees are pruned as cubes, rods, cones, balls or even as houses or domes. People can walk into these structures. Some camellia lovers feel quite unhappy with such heavily pruned trees. However, this old tradition, together with the large number of gardens of this kind, is -- to my opinion -- unique in the world and certainly worthwhile to visit.

The map of Portugal and the selection of the points of interest was done by Clara Gil de Seabra, Director of the International Camellia Society, in Portugal. The Comment was written by Klaus Peper, the originator of the ICS Website, who passed away in 2004.