Edward VII Park

Edward VII Park, known in Portuguese as Parque Eduardo VII de Inglaterra, is the largest park in central Lisbon, spanning 26 hectares. Originally established as the 'Parque da Liberdade' (Liberty Park), it was renamed in 1903 to honor the visit of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. This diplomatic gesture was intended to solidify the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, which is the oldest active alliance in the world. The park serves as a grand extension of the Avenida da Liberdade, acting as a vital green space for the city's urban core. The current look of the park is largely the work of architect Francisco Keil do Amaral, who redesigned it in 1945. He moved away from the traditional romantic garden style in favor of a formal, symmetrical layout. The most striking feature of his design is the central strip of clipped boxwood hedging that forms geometric patterns as it slopes down toward the Tagus River. This design creates a dramatic visual axis that draws the eye from the top of the hill down to the Marquis of Pombal Square and the blue waters in the distance. Today, the park is a cultural cornerstone of Lisbon, hosting major annual events like the Lisbon Book Fair. It is also home to the Estufa Fria, a world-renowned greenhouse complex built into a former basalt quarry. At the northern end of the park, a monumental sculpture by João Cutileiro commemorates the 25th of April Revolution of 1974, topped by a massive Portuguese flag that flies proudly over the city skyline, symbolizing Portugal's transition to democracy.