A Trip to Bacalhôa Buddha Eden Garden
Magical gardens that should not be missed during a visit to Portugal are the gardens of: Bacalhôa Buddha Eden.
The gardens are located between Sintra and Óbidos, about an hour's drive from Lisbon, and can be combined with a day trip in the area, or along the way from Lisbon to Porto.
Recommended accommodations for travelers in the area are provided in the article on Trips to Sintra and its surroundings as well as in the article: Traveler's Guide to Lisbon.
These are the largest oriental gardens in Europe, covering an area of 35 hectares (about 86 acres) with thousands of sculptures integrated into nature among trees, flowers, bushes, lakes, and ornamental ponds.
The gardens were founded by José Berardo, a wealthy Portuguese businessman and art collector.
About 6,000 tons of marble and granite were used to create the sculptures on site.
The site features many Buddha statues, including giant ones:
The Buddha statues added to the gardens are in memory of the two giant Buddha statues from the 6th century AD that were carved into the rock in the Bamyan Valley of Afghanistan and destroyed in 2001 by order of the Taliban.
Dozens of terracotta soldiers:
Countless animal sculptures, including entire herds of buffalo, elephants, deer, crocodiles, and leopards.
Charming marble sculptures of people, kinetic sculptures, and a bamboo plant labyrinth
And charming African sculpture gardens dedicated to the Shona people of Zimbabwe, who have been sculpting in stone for nearly a thousand years.
The gardens are surrounded by vineyards, and the site also features a large wine shop selling local produce, including tastings (delicious wines at attractive prices).
Those who have difficulty walking can ride (for a small additional charge) on a small tourist train with many stops throughout the park.
The site also features a restaurant and cafeteria for visitors' convenience, with tables set alongside gardens featuring a fountain and sculptures.
Opening hours: Between May and September 09:00-19:00. The rest of the year 09:00-18:00. Entry is permitted up to half an hour before closing.
