The Garden
Its current structure is the result of an intervention carried out in the 1950s, a collaboration between the last marchioness of Ficalho, Mariazinha de Mello, and the forestry engineer from Serpense José Pulido Garcia.
Like so many historic gardens in Portugal, the garden of the Palácio Ficalho consists of a woodland and an orchard surrounded by boxwood and scattered cypresses. The orchard of this garden is a beautiful orange grove. The water that irrigates this orange grove and the rest of the garden comes from a waterwheel on the wall of Serpa and enters the garden through an aqueduct constructed with the sole purpose of supplying the palace. The relationship with the aqueduct and the wall of Serpa is undoubtedly the most emblematic feature of this garden.
And yet, the history of this garden is yet to be written. It is known that at the beginning of the 20th century its function was essentially productive, serving as a meeting point between the several agricultural properties owned by the family. But what use had it previously? What was its structure and composition? How did the water circulate in this garden and with what purpose? These questions remain to be answered, and we are working hard to do so.
Water and power meet in this Alentejo garden, known in the family as quintalão (in English, “big yard”).
