It is difficult to imagine that the mass of vegetation lying to the left of the motorway that leads north could be home to such beauty.

We are asked to wait for the guide who will show us around the gardens. These few short minutes give us the opportunity to listen to the sound of the breeze rustling among the leaves of the trees, to marvel at the tranquillity of the pond, and to feel dwarfed by the avenue of immense banana trees along which our visit begins. Our guide, a young botany student, explains the history of the gardens with typical Malaga wit and charm: they were the brainchild of a couple of newlyweds who decided to amass a collection of plants from all over the world during their long honeymoon. The well-to-do couple then continued to take delivery of further exotic species from the countries with which they enjoyed commercial links.

We feel smaller still as we compare this glamorous existence with our own lives, with our short holidays and tiny balconies where we endeavour to water humble potted plants. The sight of towering bamboo plants which grow at an incredible rate, of a variety of giant ficuses with their enormous terrestrial and aerial roots, and of the thousands of other plants all battling to survive in the same space will ensure that our optimism soon returns. Life is curiously similar to this for most human beings.

We head up to the highest point in the gardens, home to the mansion and the huge wisteria loggia. As we proceed along the path, we hear the babble of the water and the rustle of the breeze, surrounded by tropical species now many decades old. By now totally relaxed, the group of visitors remark upon the unusual nature of the plants, many of which they have never seen before. We come to what is known as the Mediterranean Garden, with its exquisite umbrella pines and more giant banana trees that lead us to a pavilion from which the city of Malaga can be glimpsed amidst the fragrant flora.