Quinta da Boa Vista, Estate garden in Funchal, Portugal
Quinta da Boa Vista is an estate garden with stepped terraces that rise about 112 meters above Funchal, overlooking the central and western parts of the city. The property contains one of the island's largest orchid collections, distributed across the layered garden spaces.
The property began as a market garden in the late 1700s and was transformed into an orchid garden in the 1860s when the Garton family took over the land. This shift marked the start of its evolution into a major botanical collection on the island.
The gardens reflect traditional Madeiran growing practices, where water from the local levada system flows across the stepped terraces in a pattern that has shaped the island's agriculture. Walking through shows how communities adapted to the steep landscape and limited water.
The garden is located on Rua Lombo da Boa Vista 19A in Funchal and is easy to reach by car or taxi. Wear comfortable shoes since the many staircases and changes in elevation between terraces require steady walking.
The current manager is Patrick Garton, an Oxford University botany graduate who carries on the family's horticultural legacy across multiple generations. His expertise has made the place a reference point for orchid growers and collectors beyond Madeira.
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