Audio GuideAmoreiras Garden / Marcelino Mesquita Garden

Tucked away in Lisbon’s lively Santo António district is Jardim das Amoreiras, also called Jardim Marcelino Mesquita. Established in the mid-eighteenth century, this historic garden owes its original design to the Marquis of Pombal, a visionary statesman who steered Lisbon’s grand recovery after the tragic earthquake of that period. The garden was more than just a relaxing space; it was created to nourish Lisbon’s growing silk industry. Over one hundred mulberry trees, whose leaves feed silkworms, were planted here at the garden’s start, helping to launch thriving silk production close by.

Yuri Bittar

As you stroll along shaded stone walkways, you will notice the distinctive leaves of mulberry trees as well as other species like ginkgo and soaring plane trees. The soft rustle of leaves blends with the sound of water gushing from the elegant circular fountain at the heart of the garden. Stone benches circle the fountain, inviting people to sit and take in the calm scenery, while a nearby playground and a small reflective lake add to the garden’s tranquil charm.

Susana Ribeiro

Beside the garden stands the Aqueduto das Águas Livres, a striking feat of eighteenth-century engineering. This aqueduct, with its sweeping arches and grand central span, once brought fresh water to the growing city. Its tallest arch rises dramatically above Lisbon’s roads, showing how past and present sit side by side in the city. At the aqueduct’s end, the Mãe d'Água reservoir, designed by Carlos Mardel, now houses the Water Museum and hosts art exhibitions inside its cool, echoing halls.

Within steps, the former Royal Silk Factory has transformed into the Fundação Arpad Szenes-Vieira da Silva, an art museum celebrating two renowned modern painters. A recent renovation brought new light to its galleries and fresh attention to both Portuguese and international art.

Jardim das Amoreiras also remembers Marcelino Mesquita—a celebrated Portuguese playwright and poet whose literary legacy connects to the cultural vibrancy of the neighborhood. Together, the garden’s lush greenery, striking baroque and neoclassical structures, creative spaces, and literary heritage create a rich, layered experience. Visitors discover a vivid snapshot of Lisbon’s journey from the age of silk and waterworks to modern creativity and urban culture.