Welcome to La Concepción Historic Botanical Garden. You are at the main entrance, please stand in front of the map on the left hand side at the back, next to the pond with the aquatic plants. In this map, you can appreciate the vast size of the grounds. In the middle of the drawing you will see a darker green area, which marks the historic garden, around which the various buildings, places and special areas of the estate are arranged, which you can visit after this tour.
The estate dates back to the middle of the 18th century when La Concepción was part of a group of farms located to the north of the city, where lemons, grapes, cereals, olives and almonds were produced. A married couple, Jorge Loring and Amalia Heredia, bought the estate in 1855, and added other properties until they had 66 hectares. In 1911 the property was acquired by Rafael Echevarría, a native of Bilbao who was married to Amalia Echevarrieta. They were looking for a place in Malaga with a pleasant climate where they could spend long periods of time during the winter. In 1990 it was bought by Malaga City Council, which set aside an area of 23 hectares that included the subtropical garden — which was declared a Site of Cultural Interest — and the fruit orchards, an area of Mediterranean scrubland, and the various buildings that make up the Botanical Gardens.
Before we start our walk, we suggest that you take a map to help you follow the route, and it is also a good idea to read the rules of good manners. Remember that if you want to know the name of a plant you will find a “botanical label” near it, where you can see its scientific name, how it is most commonly known locally, the botanical family to which it belongs and its place of origin.
Let’s begin.