The gardens of Portugal are among the most cosmopolitan in the world. The product of Portugal's long seafaring history, they bring together ideas from East and West in a style that is, in both design and planting, confident, flamboyant, exotic, and distinctly Portuguese. In the golden age of Portuguese exploration the glazed tiles and distinctive water tanks of the Moorish style were combined with the open loggias and box parterres of the Italian Renaissance, and gardens were decorated with statues and reliefs of dolphins, sea horses, anchors and other maritime motifs. From China, Japan, Africa, Australia and the Americas, Portugal's seafarers brought new seeds and plants such as camellias and rhododendrons that flourished in the mild climate.
This book describes some twenty-eight gardens, stunningly photographed by John Ferro Sims.
- ISBN13 9780711226937
- Publish Date 2 June 2008
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 7 June 2016
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 176
- Language English