Jardines de Puerta Oscura, Mediterranean garden on Gibralfaro slopes, Málaga, Spain.
Jardines de Puerta Oscura is a terraced garden on the Gibralfaro slopes in Málaga, Spain, planted with cypress trees, Canary palms, Aleppo pines, bougainvillea, and jacaranda. Pathways wind through different levels of the garden and provide several seating areas where visitors can pause and enjoy the surroundings.
The gardens were designed in 1937 by architect Fernando Guerrero-Strachan Rosado to frame the remaining walls of the Alcazaba fortress. This project transformed a space connected to medieval fortifications into a landscaped public area.
These gardens blend traditional Andalusian design with a modern public space where locals walk and gather under the shade of mature trees. The location serves residents and visitors seeking a quiet moment away from the busy streets around City Hall.
The garden sits behind City Hall and is easy to reach through several entrances, with good paths suitable for different mobility levels. The various terraces offer plenty of stopping points, so take your time exploring at a relaxed pace.
The garden's name comes from an ancient gate called Puerta Oscura, which once led into a shaded passageway through medieval fortifications. Few visitors realize that the name refers to this hidden medieval route that no longer exists in its original form.
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