The lake in the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal undergoes rehabilitation works

The rehabilitation of the lake in the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal kicks off this Monday, 22nd February. This municipal investment of circa 132 million euros should be completed in the second half of the month of April. The work is carried out by the Municipal Company GO Porto - Gestão e Obras do Porto, and it is targeted at the general waterproofing treatment of the lake, open cracks, fissures, wall repair and hydraulic infrastructure works.

The Palácio de Cristal was designed by the English architect Thomas Dillen Jones, and it was inaugurated to host the International Exhibition of 1865 called the "Exposição Internacional do Porto". The exhibition was inaugurated on 18 September, by the Portuguese king Luís I and his consort Maria Pia of Savoy. It was the first world fair to be held on the Iberian Peninsula.

The building was modelled on the Crystal Palace in London. The British architect used building materials such as iron, granite and glass. At 150 meters long and 72 meters wide, the principal structure was divided into three naves.

The Palácio de Cristal was surrounded by the still existing and recently renovated Gardens of Palácio de Cristal, designed by German landscape architect Émile David. Since then, it is one of the most sought sites in Porto, with splendid viewpoints overlooking the river Douro, near the Chapel of Carlos Alberto, commissioned in 1850, by the Princess Augusta de Montléart, step sister of King Charles Albert of Sardinia, who was in exile in Porto or a nice walk under the Linden Avenues, the 'Avenida das Tílias', which currently hosts Porto Book Fair.

Any further information on the works is available at the GO Porto website, or via the phone number 228 339 303.