Bacalhoa Buddha Eden

Where do you even begin when describing Bacalhôa Buddha Eden? Spread across 35 hectares at Quinta dos Loridos—about 45 minutes north of Lisbon—these extraordinary gardens feel like stepping into another world.

The project began in 2007, inspired by a moment of global heartbreak. After the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan, wealthy philanthropist and passionate art collector José Berardo was so deeply affected that he began acquiring giant Buddha sculptures. What started as an act of cultural preservation soon grew into the remarkable Buddha Eden we can visit today.
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We arrived at Quinta dos Loridos on a blisteringly hot day, grateful for the enormous car park that made finding a space effortless. After purchasing our tickets (garden entrance + train), we stepped into the imaginative, almost surreal landscape of the gardens.

The first thing we did after arriving was hop onto the little train that loops around the gardens. Our plan was to ride it as far as the giant Buddha statues and then make our way back on foot through the vast grounds.
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The opening stretch of the route takes you past one of the estate’s many vineyards, where a series of colourful panels tells the story of wine. Each sign is crafted from specially commissioned tiles, creating a vibrant display that stands out beautifully against the rolling hills and neatly lined vines in the background. It’s a charming introduction to the gardens and sets the tone for the creativity that follows.

After a short ride along the pristine walkways and landscaped paths, we reached the area with the Buddha statues. One of the first things that caught our eye were the masses of Allium caesiums in full bloom, their vibrant blue flowers giving the gardens a distinctive splash of colour. And speaking of blue—we ended up seeing a lot more of it that day, but more on that later.
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This part of the garden is home to some of its most impressive sculptures, including a giant reclining Buddha and the towering 21‑metre‑high Buda Gigante. Standing among these monumental figures, surrounded by lush greenery and bursts of blue, feels both peaceful and surreal.

Over the years, the gardens have expanded to their current size—though judging by the ongoing work, it seems they’re still growing. With each phase of development came new additions, including an impressive collection of African and contemporary sculptures that add even more character to the landscape.
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Remember that mention of blue earlier? Not long after leaving the Buddha area, we stumbled upon an entire army of blue Xi’an‑style Terracotta Warriors. And no, it wasn’t the heat playing tricks on us. Rows upon rows of bright blue figures stood proudly on the hillside, creating one of the most surreal and memorable sights in the entire park. Thankfully, we snapped plenty of photos to prove we weren’t imagining it.

As we continued wandering through the garden, we came across a mix of Japanese‑inspired statues and—yes—more blue figures, including a rather surreal giant chicken with a human head. Buddha Eden certainly doesn’t shy away from the unexpected.
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A little farther on, another army of Xi’an‑style warriors stood lined up along the hillside, gazing out over a vast lake shimmering with koi. The combination of sculptures, water, and lush greenery created one of the most peaceful and visually striking corners of the entire park.

Next, we reached the African sculpture garden. Towering palm trees cast deep shade over the paths, their giant leaves partially hiding the artworks beneath. As we wandered through, we found sculptures of buffalos, lions, and elephants alongside striking pieces of contemporary African art. The combination of wildlife figures and modern creativity gives this corner of the park a completely different atmosphere—lush, dramatic, and full of character.

Under a blistering sun, we made our way toward the giant bamboo garden, which doubles as an enormous maze dotted with sculptures. Wandering through the tall bamboo corridors feels both cooling and slightly mysterious, with artworks appearing unexpectedly around each bend.
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In this part of the park, you’ll also find a large collection of modern contemporary sculptures—many with wonderfully fitting names like Torso (you can probably guess which photo earned that title). The mix of natural shade, quirky art, and winding paths makes this area one of the most playful and surprising corners of Buddha Eden.

Close to the Quinta lies a beautiful lake, and from its edge you can easily reach the restaurant and the shop selling wines from the neighbouring estate—at surprisingly reasonable prices. Naturally, we couldn’t resist. After browsing the shelves for a moment, we left with a chilled bottle of Casa Mendes Blue tucked under our arm, the perfect souvenir from a sun‑soaked day in Buddha Eden.

And after a fabulous afternoon at Bacalhôa Buddha Eden, we simply couldn’t resist opening our bottle of Casa Mendes. After all, we’d seen so much blue throughout the day that it felt perfectly fitting to end it with a glass of blue wine. Yes, you read that right—the wine really was blue.