Porto has many beautiful parks where you can enjoy a stroll and breathe in the fresh air. One of these parks, Jardim da Cordoaria, is located near the Clerigos Tower in the heart of the city and is one of the most attractive parks in Porto. Despite its small size, this park stands out among all the parks in Portugal and even beyond.
One of the most interesting features of this park is the "Thirteen Laughing Together," a collection of 13 bronze and steel figures that are scattered throughout the park. These life-sized statues depict people in different positions, with the same joyous expression of laughter. The figures are standing, sitting, or lying down, and two or three of them are on each bench. It's not clear whether they were pushed or fell down, but their laughter remains.
This sculptural ensemble, created by the Spanish artist Juan Munoz, was designed as a tribute to the freedom fighters who lost their lives in this park in 1829. According to some reports, other works by the artist can be found in prestigious museums such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Tate Modern in London.
Whether this is true or not, visitors to the Cordoir Garden can get a sense of the artist's timeless figures by taking a photo or simply sitting next to them.
