Restoring the Palacio - The Lawyer and his Gardens

Green spaces in cities allow us to breathe – and at Lisbon’s Palácio Príncipe Real, owners Gail and Miles Curley know the power of their greenery-filled outdoor setting in the urban hub of Lisbon. In fact, it was the garden that they first fell in love with – a wild untamed space that they knew would translate as chilled, all-natural exclusivity in a buzzy city that never sleeps. Those who have pounded those cobbled streets and upward alleys of Lisbon know that respite after a day exploring every corner is heaven. To sit in a garden, shaded by jacaranda trees, sipping tea, a cold glass of wine or perhaps plunging into the pool is the real luxury.

But of course, like many things that appear so effortlessly, they do in fact have a background of hard work associated with it, and no more so than at the Príncipe Real. 

The oldest resident in the garden is a Washingtonia palm tree around 120-years old and over 100 foot high, its generous leaves creating dappled light to the garden, whereas the 100-year-old jacaranda tree gifts the garden with its spectacular lilac flowers in May and June. Elsewhere, the garden bursts with red and orange blossomed hibiscus, bougainvillea and polygala myrtifolia – a hedge that gives privacy to the pool area whilst producing pretty purple flowers that also make great table decorations. Miles admits that the Lisbon climate is a joy to work with, making it easy for the garden to flourish, but we think he’s definitely got the ‘green-fingered’ touch.

With sustainability high on the agenda, Miles knew he also needed to meet the challenge of water management. Planting smartly was the answer, using resilient plants that are native to Lisbon and which thrive without excessive water. The use of grass grids where the cars are parked meant more water capture which could be used elsewhere.

Although Miles admits it was a long and challenging process, the end result is hugely worth it – in Miles’ words it’s “a true haven in the bustle of a capital”, and in a city where private green spaces are scarce, the sheer pleasure of walking from your ground-floor room directly into a leafy garden full of birdsong for breakfast or an early morning swim is an immeasurable luxury.