The Crystal Palace and its gardens were inaugurated in 1865 on the initiative of a group of progressive citizens who wanted to establish Porto as an innovative and visionary city. Occupying around 9 hectares, they were built on the Torre da Marca site, an open, flat and elevated area that allowed for wide panoramic views over the Douro River.

The Crystal Palace designed by Thomas Dillen Jones stood until 1952, when it was demolished to make way for the Sports Pavilion, a circular modernist building designed by architect José Carlos Loureiro and inaugurated in 1956.

The gardens were designed according to a naturalistic model by the German landscape architect Emílio David and still retain many of their original features. They include romantic-style woodlands, long boulevards, with Avenida das Tílias being the largest and most emblematic, and formal gardens, including the vast entrance garden, now known as Jardim Emílio David.

The 1892 letter by Telles Ferreira accurately shows the gardens and it is possible to see elements that have been added in the almost 30 years since its inauguration, such as the lake with naturalized forms built at the back of the palace, and the acoustic shell, a stage – bandstand by Tomás Soller. Among the original elements that can still be seen are the Camões grotto, located on the western slope, and the Chapel of Carlos Alberto (1860) integrated into the Avenida das Tílias.

The Crystal Palace Gardens play a central role in the history of the city of Porto and are today a privileged meeting place for locals and visitors.