With this post we inaugurate the Crossroads of Cultures category of the blog. The main idea is to create a space for comparison between cultural attractions that can be found in different parts of the world, to explain them "through the eyes of" the other culture.
For example, more and more Asian tourists are visiting European destinations. If the sites they will visit are explained through comparisons with similar examples they have in their own countries, they will get more out of their travel experience. At the same time, it helps any Western reader to reason out many things that are naturalised as being "their own thing".
In this first entry, we will enjoy European gardens through the eyes of Asian gardens. In most tourist destinations these large green spaces are part of the list of priority attractions, so it is very useful to be able to delve into their logic and secrets.
The beauty of nature
Gardens are an artistic and cultural manifestation that has transcended borders throughout history. Both in Asia and in Europe, these natural spaces have been a reflection of the relationship between human beings and nature, as well as of the different traditions and aesthetic styles of each region.
Obviously every garden has a series of characteristics that always appear, no matter where they come from. Not everything is different! Let's see:
Connecting with nature: any garden requires a lot of effort. Why did different cultures throughout history decide to build them? The physical and mental health benefits of creating natural spaces with fresh air and protection from extreme temperatures in summer or winter were always recognised.
Specialists: we often forget, but both centuries ago and today, every garden - no matter its size - needs a group of experts who are in charge of its design, permanent maintenance, botanical selection, etc. And in both Europe and Asia, having these trades was synonymous with great status and prestige.
Presence of water: an indispensable element for life and a symbol of fullness and health, all gardens incorporate water in at least some part of their design. In arid or dry places this prominence of water was much greater, because ensuring constant clean water was also an additional challenge.
Symbolic selection: while nature in its pure state is uncontrolled, random and very changeable, the gardens that humans built seek to choose certain plant species, delimit spaces, choose visual forms and maintain a layout over time. That is why we say that every garden is a "green imitation", because it seeks to generate an environment that resembles nature, but is always artificial.
So much for the similarities. Let us now get to know a little about the particularities of European gardens.
Gardens in Europe: "tamed" nature
Types of European gardens
Despite this classification, combinations or variants of them have emerged over time. And don't let the names fool you: you can find Italian gardens in Prague, French gardens in Vienna or English gardens in Madrid!
Now you can play at recognising the different styles when you visit a garden in Europe! Whatever they are, they are all a beautiful stop on our travels. In some we can have picnics, in others we can sit in the sun or look for shade, in others we can take unforgettable photographs.
In the second part, you will learn about the characteristics of gardens in Asia and how they differ from what we saw in Europe. You will see that it is a whole different world!
Questions for our readers:
What is your favourite garden in Europe?
Why do you like to visit monumental gardens on your travels?
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