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Hanbury Botanical Gardens are located on the Mortola promontory, on the Ligurian coast, a few kilometres from the French border. They stretch over 45 acres of the municipal area of Ventimiglia, in the province of Imperia.
The typical English landscape, with irregular paths and romantic pergolas and patios, offers postcard-like views of the sea in the background. The property features a wide range of microclimates, according to different exposures to the sun and the winds, variable heights and humidity.
The two Hanbury brothers and their precious assistant correctly identified all these exciting features and made the most of them when successfully planting many different species.
The garden’s construction started in 1867, thanks to passionate English traveller Sir Thomas Hanbury, who had made his fortune as a tea exporter in Shanghai. His brother Daniel provided the scientific criteria for creating the acclimatization garden, the very dream the two had caressed since their early age. Together, they remodelled pathways, and renovated Palazzo Orengo, along with the other buildings on the property.

Between the sea and the ancient Roman road, next to the old olive grove, they built a citrus grove, a vegetable garden and a rose garden sheltered from the salty air thanks to a renovated fence wall. On the gentle slope above the Roman road, they created the Australian Forest, made with tropical plants, while decorating with Mediterranean scrubs the eastern and western sides of the villa. They also added several varieties of water plants.
Throughout the past centuries, these gardens went through neglect and restoration more than once – the latter made possible by enthusiast professionals.

Luckily, the whole property has been managed by the Superintendence of Archeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the metropolitan city of Genoa and the provinces of Imperia, La Spezia and Savona, since 1939

In 1987, the University of Genoa was given the actual management of gardens, while their historical building and structures are still entrusted to the above-mentioned Superintendence.

Plants

Many interesting species can be found in the Australian Forest – made with eucalyptus, Callistemon spp., Melaleuca app., and Acacia app . – succulent plants, the Garden of Perfumes, the “Giardinetti” – with ancient varieties of roses and peonies – the Exotic Orchard, and the Citrus Groves, with ancient varieties of citrus.
The contemporary main collections include species of: Acacia, Agave, Aloe, Brugmansia, Cistus, Citrus, Eucalyptus, Passiflora, Rosa, Salvia, along with Bignoniaceae, and Myrtaceae families.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)