Pedagogical Garden of Prazeres

Ten years ago, Father Rui Sousa, the priest at the little church at Prazeres, on the west of the island, paved the way in spreading the word about local produce by opening the rectory grounds as a “pedagogical garden”.

It's a great interesting cultural complex which has a little bit of everything for everyone of all ages: a herb garden, a tea room, an art gallery, a cider house, food and drinks and, of course, the main famed attraction of its small zoo which houses animals such as  turtles, geese, ducks, lamas, cows, horses, donkeys, ponies, goats, pigs, ostriches, rabbits, turkeys, chickens, pigeons, doves, pheasants, peacocks, and many others.

In the garden teahouse you can savour Father Rui’s homemade jams and ciders, and a variety of his herb teas.

Various events are organized throughout the year in order to raise funds to help pay for the maintenance of the Quinta. Such events include the Cider Festival, the traditional Blessing of the Animals, the Animal Auction and the Wheat Threshing Celebration. The Quinta is open daily from 9am to 7:30pm except during the summer months when it closes at 9pm.

Ideal for nature lovers, the Quinta allows its visitors contact with the increasingly scarce natural world.