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This magnificent specimen of giant sequoia can be found within the park of Gamba Castle, in the municipality of Châtillon.

In 1903, on a barren hill, Baron Gamba decided to build a castle and the adjoining park, inspired by the English gardens; he eventually did so after the untimely death of his wife and then he donated his property to the Region. Today, the castle is home to a museum and a cultural centre.

The large sequoia growing in the park can be still considered a young specimen (it’s about 130 years old) when compared to many centuries-old specimens thriving in their homeland: California.

This sequoia has a trunk circumference of 25.2 ft and is 121-ft tall.

How to get there:

From Turin or Milan, take the A5 motorway to Valle d’Aosta and then the Châtillon / Saint Vincent exit. From there, follow the road signs to Castello Gamba.

Botanical Card

Native to the mountainous areas of the Sierra Nevada in California, this species was introduced in Italy in the mid-XIX century as an ornamental plant for parks and gardens.
Giant sequoias are among the largest trees in the world, they can reach 328 ft in height and a trunk circumference of 98 ft. This is also a very long-lived species as it can exceed 2.000 years of age.

In America, it is called “redwood” due to the dark amber shade of its wood. The bark is thick, light and very spongy, and can thus survive cold and fires.

PHOTO: http://www.ascuoladaglialberi.net/wordpress/?tag=alberi-monumentali-provincia-di-aosta

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)