Park of Villa Durazzo Pallavicini – Genoa Pegli
From March to end October. One of the most famous romantic gardens in Europe
From March to end of October, Villa Durazzo Pallavicini, a historic Ligurian noble residence on the west side of Genoa, opens to the public.
The park of Villa Durazzo Pallavicini is is located in a dominant position in the residential district of Pegli, which was once an independent town particularly loved by the English aristocracy and it is one of the most famous historic gardens in Europe, in 2017 declared “the most beautiful park in Italy”.
The structure of the park, as we see it today, dates back to the mid-19th century when the Marquis Ignazio Alessandro Pallavicini asked Michele Canzio, scenographer of the Carlo Felice Theater, to turn the original 17th-century park wanted by the Grimaldi family (the rulers of the Principality of Monaco) into a “romantic garden”
The surface of the park surrounding the villa is about 9 hectares and includes a large botanical garden named after the noblewoman Clelia Durazzo (married to Grimaldi) who had already built an important botanical garden in the park of the villa at the end of the 18th century.
A theatrical narration – Michele Canzio conceived the park as a scenic route and along the paths, visitors can encounter palm trees, exotic plants, holm oaks and laurels, but also neoclassical, neo-Gothic or rustic architecture,
The path of the park is also full of esoteric and Masonic quotes that guided tours explain to visitors .
The architectures encountered along the route include the Gothic chapel of the Madonna, the Captain’s mausoleum, the Heroes’ tombs, a medieval-style farmhouse and the castle, with a square base with a cylindrical central tower, with frescoed and furnished interiors.
In the area of the Great Lake there are the neoclassical temple dedicated to Diana, which stands in the center of the lake and has become the symbolic image of the park, and buildings of oriental inspiration such as the iron bridge, the Chinese pagoda, the Egyptian obelisk and the Turkish temple.
The tour ends at Casino di Flora, an octagonal building decorated with stucco and colored glass with a magical game of mirrors that expands the space to infinity.
The botanical garden within the park covers an area of 4500 square meters, named after Clelia Durazzo. the garden contains over 1,550 plant species of both exotic and native plants.
In the garden there is the largest and oldest collection of camellias in Europe, with valuable species from all over the world. Among these is the splendid specimen of Camellia japonica ‘Rubra simplex’ which towers above the Great Lake. The collection of camellias is visible to the public and attracts enthusiasts from all over the world during the breathtaking blooming during spring.
Among the exotic plants, monumental camphor, cedar from Lebanon at the edge of the lake, a collection of palm trees, age-old araucaria and cork, the banksia rose…
In 1928 the Villa Durazzo Pallavicini complex was acquired by the Municipality of Genoa, which carefully restored and today also uses it as a nursery for ornamental plants for gardens and city parks.
The park can also be reached by sea. In addition to using your own car, visitors can get to the park by urban public transport, by train, but also by sea with a boat ride of about 20 minutes that leaves from Porto Antico area.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Open from March to the end of October
For details and opening hours see the website>>>
and the facebook page>>>
Entrance with a fee
It is possible to purchase ticket online>>>
For guided tours, reservations required at +39 393 8830842 or +39 010 8531544 or by sending a mail>>>
Credits photo Villa Durazzo park
AND AFTER THE VISIT?
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