São Francisco Gardens

The São Francisco Gardens were built in the late 1970s in the city of Câmara de Lobos. Initially called 'Câmara de Lobos Public Gardens', or 'Espírito Santo and Calçada Gardens', its name was soon changed in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.

In 1984, this area was decorated with a bronze sculpture by artist Jaime Santos, depicting Saint Francis caressing a wolf. It has the following inscription: 'Saint Francis – The Poor Man of Assisi'.

The São Francisco Gardens remained unchanged until 2005, when, due to the pressing need to provide the city with a greater number of parking spaces for vehicles, the Câmara de Lobos City Council began redevelopment works. In 2006, at the intersection between Rua Padre Pita Ferreira and Estrada João Gonçalves Zarco, there was a new square with an underground car park in the heart of the city centre for 150 vehicles.

From here, the Câmara de Lobos bay is a stone's throw away. On the way, you will pass the corner that Winston Churchill chose to immortalise the uniqueness of this landscape on canvas.