Parque de São Roque, Porto

Parque de São Roque or Quinta da Lameira is over 4 hectares in area and was acquired by the Porto City Council in 1979 from the Cálem family. The area that corresponds to the park today was once Quinta da Lameira, which originated from the division of Quinta da Bela-Vista.

It was opened to the public on July 20, 1979 and since then has become a lung of the eastern part of the city of Porto. At that time several sculptural pieces were installed in the park and a chapel that existed in Largo Actor Dias was also placed.

It is arranged in levels, with the characteristic atmosphere of a romantic garden, with nooks and crannies, a wrought iron fountain, a pond, shaded areas, a circular belvedere, a pond in a grotto. It also has small granite buildings, once a workhouse now adapted to new functions. In the upper area there is a leafy and cool eucalyptus forest. Its ex-libris is an excellent and beautiful labyrinth built by hedges, which seen from above give it an excellent landscape effect. Its levels go from Travessa das Antas, where it also has an entrance, to Rua de São Roque da Lameira, where the old palatial house from 1792 is located.

In the palatial house once functioned the Office of Urban Planning of the Municipality of Porto. Inside it you can still see some of the original collection. The richly decorated ceilings, doors, entrance mirror, etc. stand out.

After being dilapidated and in a sad state of neglect it has been restored, opening to the public in October 2019 as a contemporary art exhibition center.