The Shale Garden

The Shale Garden was built in the 1950s with a modern geometric layout softened by the rustic irregularity of the stones. The circular small ponds in its centre form a constructed habitat where water lilies and other aquatic plants thrive. The garden also evokes the warmth of Douro landscapes, with its schist walls and sidewalks, vineyards, strawberry trees, and lavender. A pedunculate oak surmounts it at south, emphasizing an autochthonous note.
It is a beloved place for events and meetings, where poetry, singing, frogs, and reflexes coexist tunefully from time to time. Occasionally, a heron dawns on the edge of the lake, expecting a fat carp to spring.