Once deemed the most important botanical garden in Europe, the Botanical Garden of the University of Lisbon, often referred to in a simpler way as the Botanical Garden, still manages to keep some of its past reputation. The garden was founded in the second half of the 19th century (1873), its inauguration taking place in 1878. It was intended to serve the Science Academy of Lisbon.

The scientific worth of the venue lies in the fact the garden shelters thousands of species of rare plants, of which some are either living fossils or don’t grow spontaneously in their natural habitat, but only in artificially set up venues (such as the garden at issue). Thus, we speak of highlights like tropical species from China, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and South America, of virtually extinct floras like the cycads communities, and of a plethora of species of palm trees. The total amount of the floral asset amounts to some 18,000 species, with an obvious focus on plants originated in tropical and subtropical climates and microclimates.

Address:
58, Rua Escola Politecnica, Lisbon, Portugal
Telephone:
00351 213 921800
Fax:
00351 213 970882
Email:
jblisboa@fc.ul.pt
Website:
www.jb.ul.pt / www.bgci.org
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