Enjoy the magic wandering around the Magical Garden at Porto Botanical Garden

The Magical Garden was designed for adults and children alike, by the studio OCUBO and will make you embark on a journey to the four corners of the world. Besides highlighting some of the august flora specimens that exist in Porto Botanical Garden, the magic adds up with the 17 installations of light that comprise over 300 flashlights and the thousands of LED bulbs, as well as holograms, sculptures of light, and interactive experiences that will make this a truly enchanted experience.

This immersive nocturnal experience takes place from Thursdays to Sunday, and offers three sessions: at 9.30 pm, at 10.15 pm and at 11 pm. There are playful games with cactus to build images to our will, and colourful shades that intertwine with the majestic flora of that place.

The garden is adorned with an installation that translates as a path of light, portraying images of animals, sceneries and sounds, as well, which will carry out the task of helping the visitor get immersed in the enchanted and magical scenario. The path is a little over one kilometre and offers more than 20 experiences of light, sound installations, projections and video mapping.

The Jardim Botânico do Porto [Porto Botanical Garden] started to lighten up moods on 24 June and will continue to do so until 3 October, which is more than enough time to loose oneself through fabulous China, mythical Japan, exquisite Egypt or just sensing and smelling the nocturnal magical and enchanted atmosphere in a place where brilliant Portuguese poet Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen must have found her inspiration for her poetic work.

Ticket price ranges from 12.50 euros (on Thursdays) and 15 euros (visits from Friday to Sunday). The family ticket costs 8 euros, for a minimum of two adults and one child from 4 to 17 years old.

Students, those aged over 65 and those that reside in the district of Porto are entitled to tickets at reduced prices. Entrance is free for children up to three years old.

The path is designed in a circular shape and follows the protocol of health measures, under the ongoing pandemic situation.

A bit of history

The Jardim Botânico do Porto, was set up by the University of Porto in 1951 and then it was called the Quinta do Campo Alegre. This 12 ha farm had been the property of the Order of Christ and was purchased by João Salabert in 1802, then bearing the name “Quinta Grande do Salabert”. In 1820, it was acquired by João José da Costa; in 1875, João da Silva Monteiro bought it and began the construction of the house and the garden. Twenty-years later, in 1895 the farm was acquired by João Henrique Andresen Júnior, who continued the construction of the house and the garden. He would raise his family here, until 1949, when the property was sold to the Portuguese Government.

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