Calçada do Galvao. Belém- Lisboa.
At the beginning of the XX century, the Portuguese Government decided to create an area that would contain all the vegetable species that best represented the countries which made up their colonies. The Quinta da Calheta and the gardens adjoining the Belém Palace were chosen to house this collection, and it became known as the Jardim Museu Tropical.
Quinta House became the Museum, and spices, oils and fine woods were brought to it, the traditional produce of Mozambique, Macao and Brazil. The garden was given over to plants that came from a variety of tropical and subtropical regions around the world, with a view to testing their hardiness. Any already existing plants that were notable for their beauty or botanical interest, were also nurtured.
In subsequent years, parts of the garden were modified, by re-planting with exotic species. And so today one can see outstanding rows of Washingtonia robusta, Phoenix canariensis, Syagrus romanzoffiana and a very good collection of Encephalartos, as well as great trees like the Eucalyptus, Casuarinas, Ficus and many more.
A spacious and well ordered garden, it has nevertheless lost its original aim, which was to show the world the riches of its Portuguese colonies. However, it continues to be a centre for investigation, and a place where one can still admire the culture and lifestyle of those countries and of Portugal. Proof of this can be seen in the sculptures and tiles in and around the house and in the contents of the museum and the greenhouses. However, the latter two are not easy to visit, as they are almost always closed to the public.
