Jardim de São Lázaro

Jardim de São Lázaro is a small public garden in Porto's Bonfim district, next to the Municipal Public Library and the Faculty of Fine Arts. It is generally considered the city's first public garden, and today it is a quiet green pocket a short walk from the centre.

What is the history of São Lázaro garden?

The area takes its name from a 17th-century leper hospital dedicated to Saint Lazarus. Before the garden existed, the fields here hosted a weekly pig market and an annual fair on the saint's day. A home for orphan girls opened nearby in 1722, and in 1783 the Capuchin convent of Santo António da Cidade was founded, the building that now houses the municipal library.

King Pedro IV ordered the garden laid out in the early 1830s, after the Siege of Porto, and dedicated it to the women of the city in recognition of what they endured. Sources give either 1833 or 1834. For about three decades it was the elite's favourite promenade, until the Palácio de Cristal gardens (1860) and the Cordoaria (1865) drew the crowds away.

What can you see here?

• a small pond with a central fountain,
• a bandstand,
• a marble fountain brought from the former São Domingos convent,
• mature shade trees, including magnolias around the pond,
• camellias that colour the garden in winter.

The garden is enclosed by iron railings with several gates, which local descriptions say makes it the only one in Porto still fenced this way. Retirees play cards on the benches, and neighbours cross it on their way to work or the library.

How do you get there and when should you visit?

The garden is on Passeio de São Lázaro, a walk of roughly 15 minutes from Praça da Batalha and Rua de Santa Catarina. Entry is free. According to the city, it opens 9:00 to 20:00 in summer and 9:00 to 19:00 in winter. Spring brings the freshest greenery, and winter is the time for camellias. Most visitors spend 20 to 30 minutes, so it pairs well with a look at the library and the surrounding streets.

The garden occasionally hosts open-air events, including the A'gosto no Porto food festival.

Frequently asked questions

Is Jardim de São Lázaro free to enter?

Yes. It is a public municipal garden with no admission fee.

What are the opening hours?

Summer 9:00 to 20:00, winter 9:00 to 19:00. Check the Porto city website for current times before you go.

How long does a visit take?

Usually 20 to 30 minutes. The garden is small, so treat it as a stop on a wider walk.

Is it the same as Jardim Marques de Oliveira?

Yes. The city's tourism site lists both names for this garden.

Is the garden connected to the library?

It sits directly beside it. The Municipal Public Library occupies the former Capuchin convent dating from 1783, and an expansion of the building has been announced for the coming years.