The gardens of Quinta da Aveleda are one of the most well preserved examples of the Romantic garden in Portugal, simultaneously an excellent model for the preservation of its original traits.

Unusual in success and longevity, the property of Quinta da Aveleda was recuperated and extended in the 1860s by Manuel Pedro Guedes, being presently under the same family's rule and forming an extensive continuous property to the city limits.

The place has a high wall extension enclosing it along the road. We enter through an imposing gate showing the family arms. We follow a thick tree avenue framing a small Romantic House ahead.
Passing this vegetable tunnel, stopping here and there to admire the colourful masses of rhododendrons and azaleas spread between the secular oak shade and the aroma of the mimosas and acacias, we breathe the mist atmosphere created by the dense vegetable roof while arriving at the avenue leading to the Manor - a 17th century house, restored and extended in the late 19th century.

The composition is imposing, and draws to a colourful spectacle offered by the innumerable begonias, masses of hydrangeas of several colours and ferns placed around a big lake amid a wood of rare specimen of oaks, pines, araucariae and Japanese cedars.

The lake has three islands. In the first there is a 16th century window, historical monument of rare beauty that was part of the house where Infante D.Henrique, son of D. João, king of Portugal, was born. The second island is composed of a rock with a big fountain that refreshes the hydrangeas decorating it. Finally, in the biggest island of all, connected to land by a bridge, we find a house with a straw roof and wooden balconies where one may enjoy the admirable view on the valley and the hills encircling it.
After a small path between azaleas and other botanical specimen, we find an elaborate granite fountain, the Great Source, imposing craft over a small staircase, also in granite, ending in a garden flanked by masses of rhododendrons and azaleas.

At the end of it, there is the 4 Seasons Fountain, right in front of the Manor. It is an also granite fountain of rare proportions with 4 white marble medallions representing 4 ladies of the family and, at the same time, the four seasons.

Arriving at the back of the house, we realize that the garden still has much to disclose. By the grapevine's shade, the bordered rose path takes us to another big lake. The eyes quickly run to the greater valley landscape marked by the presence of vines fused in a vegetable curtain of willows by the Sousa river.

Certainly one cannot remain indifferent to Nature's beauty, to which the hand of Man has joined to care throughout the centuries.