Tropical Botanical Garden

The Tropical Botanical Garden (in portuguese, Jardim Botânico Tropical) is located near to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos¹ and belongs to the Instituto de Investigação Científica e Tropical (IICT)². It was founded on the January 25^th, 1906, with the name Jardim Colonial³ and inaugurated by D. Carlos I, the penultimate king of Portugal.

Indeed, and has the first name indicates, the strenght of the tropical collection focuses on flora and fauna original from the Portuguese ex colonies. Here, visitors will find an herbarium, a carpological collection (specimens of fruit), a wood collection with samples of wood properly identified by specie and the zoological collections.

By walking the garden one will find diverse exotic animals, like the turtle of red spots, the grey and royal herons or the aratinga of blue head (a bird). To embellish even more this space full of life, there are spread around the garden several sculptures, some of them, from Italy and dating from the 18^th century.

This natural space is also used as stage for temporary exhibitions of many different themes.

Translation references

1. Jerónimos Monastery
2. Institute for Scientific and Tropical Research
3. Colonial Garden