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The Abbey of Santa Maria is in Rocca de ‘Baldi, in the province of Cuneo. In the XV century, many areas in this territory were reclaimed and turned into productive estates, while the woods were privatized. Among the cultivated fields, the population has built several places of worship dedicated to the Virgin and the Saints for having avoided several epidemics in the past.
Right outside the town of Rocca de ‘Baldi, there was a pylon called “Beata Maria del Pillone”, which was later merged with the main altar of the church, in 1650. In the middle of the XVII century, the Abbey of Santa Maria del Castello was built in the same place. Its current appearance is the result of several modifications applied over the centuries; the abbey features three main parts developed on 3.587 square yards: the internal garden, the tree-lined driveway – with majestic horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum) – and the park.

The internal garden is on a ledge of the ancient walls which surround it, while the residence itself borders with its South-West side.
Since the XIX century, it has been inspired by the monastic gardens mainly used for officinal plants. It can thus be regarded as a hortus conclusus, including some features of a hortus deliciarum, with some fruit trees and flowers.

The park consists of both a wooded area, near the castle, and a large lawn on the south side.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)