By Filipa Branco, Landscape Architect Portfolio
Parques de Merendas: Premier Piquenique (Picnic) Spots
Every summer, families, friends, lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts celebrate the pastime of picnicking. In addition to the pleasure of sharing a meal outdoors, we often seek out gardens and parks in urban areas or in places that still preserve some naturalness, a stage for informal conviviality, physical exercise, and contemplation of the world around us. With that in mind, let's wander through a set of picnic spaces that represent a remarkable way of relishing the country and reclaiming a bit of Mother Earth, Portugal's beautiful and occasionally hidden parks and green spaces.
Tapada das Necessidades The most interesting thing about this space is that it gathers much of what exists in several city parks: local vegetation or other greenery used in Lisbon’s streets and gardens but also a collection of exotic semi-tropical plants. The specific design informs us about the function of these places throughout their history, transporting us to another time. Tapada das Necessidades is a walled space that, like so many others, has evolved from an enclosed space used by Portuguese monarchs for hunting to a privileged place for picnics. The former Congregação do Oratório convent currently named Palácio das Necessidades that hosts the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters was built in the 18th century and its area was successively expanded by the acquisition of the surrounding farmland. In 1843 the garden was redesigned by the gardener Bonard, the farmland was transformed into an English-style garden, the construction of the circular greenhouse began, and tennis courts and the Pavilion (Casa do Regalo) were built.
LISBON AND SURROUNDINGS In Lisbon, there are many gardens and parks equipped with picnic areas or at least a good lawn. Avoiding mentioning the most publicized and frequented, I highlight two gardens for your consideration.
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The entire grove of Tapada das Necessidades is classified as being of public interest, with some examples that stand out for their monumentality and rarity: Ombú, Drago, Sophora Japonica, Brazilian Peppertree, the European Nettle Tree, Alley, Carob, the cacti collection, wild-olive, massif of Zambujeiros, Adernos, and Oaks.
