THE PURPLE SHAWL OF LISBON:
JACARANDA MIMOSIFOLIAS
The season has come.
Every year, around late spring, Lisbon veil herself with a beautiful purple shawl:
Jacaranda Mimosifolias.
These purple blooming trees were brough to Portugal in 1800s from Brazil by Félix de Avelar Brotero who was considered to be the father of botany in Portugal and been planted starting from the Ajuda Botanical Garden. He, not only planted them, but also offered the seeds of this mesmerising tree to everyone who wanted, so that they can be planted all around the city.
Back at that time, the color blue and objects in the shades of it were considered a sign of royalty wherefore this regal color was priceless for people.
Arrival of Jacarandas, these beautiful flowers bearing the hues of blue, heralded the return of the royal family from Brazil where they fled from Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Portugal.
Indeed, soon after, the family returned from Brazil; and King Joao VI, upon his return, opened Ajuda Botanical Garden to public.
This glamorous heritage continues to be a feast for the eyes of everybody all around Lisbon as of late months of spring until the end of June.
The two Jacarandas in Ajuda Garden, on the other hand, are the star performers; blooming the last and with the most vibrant flowers, as if they are aware of being the first ones to step into the city and flaunting it to us.
You can come across these exotic trees more or less everywhere in Lisbon but the most prominent locations where you can catch an abundance of this vista are:
- Parque Eduardo VII
- Around Largo Necessidades / Alcântara
- Largo do Carmo
- Throughout Av. da Torre de Belém
- D. Carlos I
- Largo do Rato
P.S: As much as they are beautiful, try not to leave your vehicle below one of these tree unless you want to see it covered all in purple, which is also very pretty to see. 😊
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