Owned by the Blandy family since the 19th century, the Palheiro Gardens is an English-style park set within a complex that includes the former mansion, now a luxury hotel, and the golf course. The thousands of plant species are organized according to a highly varied plan: a small grove for the redwoods, square formal gardens with a fountain in the center, alleys of exceptional camellias, not forgetting the most beautiful of all, the wild Jardim da Senhora, where the tropical vegetation sparkles with a thousand colors.
If Madeira has long been dubbed “the floating garden of the Atlantic”, it’s because its fertile soil seems capable of growing every conceivable species. The Palheiro Gardens are located some 500 meters above sea level. Their very first owner, the Count of Carvalhal, planted a number of the estate’s trees himself, paving the way for a rich collection of camellias. Many of his plantings can still be seen today.
The visit to Jardins de Palheiro was made on August 22, 2018.
Click on the picture to enlarge it and discover its caption.
