In Madeira, achada means a small plateau. It was in one of these places that Quinta da Achada was built in the mid-18th century, with extensive gardens located between the Santa Luzia and São João creeks.
The property has belonged to several families. Among the residents is General William Beresford, who commanded the British troops in Madeira during Napoleon's invasion of Portugal. Later, the estate reverted to English families.
Today, the property is called Quinta Jardins do Lago and is a hotel, an example of the adaptation of a Madeiran quinta estate into a hotel, in which the main house was preserved, although adapted to the function, and then a contemporary building was added with most of the rooms.
The British, especially since the 17th century, settled in Madeira to be closer to the wine trade. As time went by and the world expanded, families living in Madeira had more contact with other latitudes and this was also reflected in the gardens, which began to feature plants from as far away as Australia and New Zealand, even South Africa and South America.
The gardens at Quinta da Achada have therefore evolved, especially over the course of the 19th century, and stand out in the estate's 1.5 hectares, where you can take a tour of the world of botany.
The green space is orientated to the south and consists of an extensive and very rich botanical park, with centenary trees and species from tropical and subtropical climates. These include the unique Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera) and the monumental Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora).
Flowering is at its peak in the summer, but there are species that bloom throughout the year, fluctuating in their exuberance. Most of the species have an identification plaque so that visitors can find out about the origin and characteristics of the plants, which makes the experience of visiting the gardens even more enriching.
The garden is made up of nooks and crannies, small viewpoints and pebble paths. Quinta Jardins do Lago is an area of silence in the hustle and bustle of the city.
