Jardim Botânico da Ajuda

Lisbon, Portugal, Portugal

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The Jardim Botânico da Ajuda in Lisbon, Portugal, was established in 1768 by the Marquis of Pombal with the guidance of Italian botanist Domingos Vandelli, making it the oldest botanical garden in Portugal and one of the earliest in Europe.

Originally designed as a museum and nursery, it aimed to gather and study botanical species from Portugal's extensive overseas territories during the Age of Discovery. The garden grew to host thousands of plants, including species from Africa, Asia, and the Americas, arranged according to the Linnaean classification system.

Over the centuries, it went through periods of expansion and decline, transitioning from royal ownership to being managed by the Polytechnic School and later the Higher Institute for Agronomy of the University of Lisbon. The garden has historic greenhouses, including an orchid house built by King Luís, and displays a wide range of plant collections with scientific and educational purposes.

After significant restoration in the 1990s, it now serves as a place for research, conservation, and leisure, preserving its botanical heritage while providing a tranquil green space in Lisbon.