This 400-year-old former convent, across the Ribeira de Oeiras, 500m southwest of Largo Vasco da Gama, has been owned since 1980 by Dutch artist Geraldine Zwanikken and her family. In a true labour of love, they have gradually transformed the ruins into an extraordinary place, most simply described as an organic nature reserve full of herbs, rare plants and flowers, watered by a restored Islamic irrigation system. Locals have their vegetable gardens here.
It's also an art gallery – highlights include Geraldine’s modern artworks and, gracing the former chapel (if they are not in temporary exhibitions elsewhere), the kinetic installations of renowned artist Christiaan Zwanikken. The nearby riverside is devoted to specially constructed nests for storks and lesser kestrels.
