Jardins do Paço Ducal de Vila Viçosa

At the side of the great Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa, the formal gardens of the Paço extend the marble and symmetry of the palace into hedges, fountains and shaded walks. They are part of one of the most important historic ensembles of the Alentejo, the former seat of the House of Bragança.

History and character

The palace was built from the sixteenth century for the Dukes of Bragança, and its gardens grew with it, following the formal fashions of the time. Preserved and managed by the Fundação da Casa de Bragança, the garden remains a quiet, ordered counterpart to the palace’s museums and collections.

What to see

• The formal parterres and clipped hedges of the garden.
• The fountains, statues and shaded walks between the beds.
• The palace facades, with their marble and long rows of windows.
• The neighbouring Terreiro do Paço and the historic centre of the town.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn are the gentlest seasons for a garden visit, and clear mornings give the marble facades their best light. The garden is generally seen together with the palace collections.

Nearby

The palace stands in the centre of Vila Viçosa, in the marble country of the Alentejo, a short drive from Estremoz and its Saturday market.

Visiting

The Paço Ducal is in Vila Viçosa, in the district of Évora, reached by road. The garden is one of the palace’s visitable collections, with its own ticket and schedule; check the foundation’s website before your visit.

Information: fcbraganca.pt.

Image credit: Capela e Jardim do Paço Ducal, Vila Viçosa, by GualdimG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.