Stepping into the lush, elevated expanse of the Jardim do Príncipe Real is to experience a materialised sanctuary of tranquil charm in one of Lisbon’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

Formerly named the Jardim França Borges, this romantic, mid-19th-century park is anchored by a breathtaking, sprawling centrepiece: a monumental Mexican cypress. So big that it almost dwarfs the iron cage constructed for it. Its massive, low-hanging branches create a vast umbrella-like ceiling of dense green shade that has sheltered generations of locals.

Beneath its leaves, the garden functions as a lively civic living room. One of the rare free third spaces that exist in cities today. Visitors can relax at traditional open-air kiosks, wander past a tranquil central fountain, or explore the subterranean, vaulted water chambers hidden right below the central lawn.

To sit on its benches under the afternoon sun is one of the many great ways people can cool down on hot summer days in Lisbon.