This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)

The impressive, 23-acre botanical complex of the Parks of Nervi consists of a set of parks, which used to be part of private villas, now owned by the Municipality of Genoa and used as museum structures.
It is a historical and romantic collection of great value which houses exotic and Mediterranean plants.

At the end of the seventeenth century, some Genoese noble families moved to the city of Nervi, attracted by the mild climate and direct access to the sea. The transformation of their wondrous properties into a landscape park began in 1815 when Gerolamo Serra purchased the villa of the same name and started his work, to be continued by his heir Orso Serra – the latter, in fact, happened to be just as enthusiast about plants and gardens.

Once the construction was completed, the complex was purchased by the Genoese shipowner Carlo Barabino, who eventually gave it to the Municipality in 1927. The same fate was decided by the owners of Villa Groppallo, who was also responsible for the construction of the promenade, and Villa Grimaldi (sold in 1979), renovated in the 60s by architects Carlo Daneri and Pietro Porcinai.

The project

The current layout which includes Serra Parks, Roseto, Gropallo, and Grimaldi, used to be a three-property estate with vegetable gardens, progressively remodeled according to English and Romantic style.
The landscape strives to respect the initial three different ecosystems embedded in the same marine environment.

Tall trees and bushes of different colors are the elements of so many different backgrounds of breath-taking telescope-like views on the sea – flowers, pools, ornamental plants and blossoms, groves, and rocks inevitably end up with creating the perfect scenographic effect. Unfortunately, when railway works began in 1872, the uncontrolled growth of plants partly hid spoiled those very effects.

The east side of the complex, part of the Grimaldi-Fassio property, has long been transformed into a rose garden, in which about 800 varieties of roses can be found – they’re part of the international “Rosa Rifiorente” competition.

Exotic and Mediterranean species

The curvy avenues run along large meadows where visitors can enjoy trees, shrubs, villas and the coastal hilly landscape, despite the lack of proper garden maintenance.
There is a vast heritage of palm trees, including Butia capitata, Phoenix canariensis, Phoenix dactylifera, and Washingtonia robusta. Not to mention five monumental trees from different parts of the world: Araucaria bidwillii of Brazilian origin, Cinnamonum camphora (camphor) of Chinese and Japanese origin, Jubaea chilensis from Chile, Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) native to the Mediterranean region, and finally Yucca elephantipes, originally from Central America.

The restoration: in recent years, the green heritage of Nervi Parks has progressively depleted; in 2016 a blizzard destroyed 196 trees and caused the partial closure of this facility until June 2018.
Luckily, in 2018 the Municipality launched a competition for restoration and enhancement of the parks, won by the Genoese company Dodi Moss, along with landscape architect Stefania Spina.
500 new trees are going to be planted, over 21.500 square feet of new hedges and shrubs, while 12 collections of plants along with the surrounding walkways will be finally freed from tar. The first results of the endeavor should be visible within the next year.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)