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The Botanical Garden of Montemarcello can be found on the summit of Monte Murlo (1.198 ft) near Caprione area: a site of great value that offers visitors the main plant species of the area.
The garden, inaugurated in 1999, is located within the Magra Park, Montemarcello Regional Natural Park, and is included in the network of botanical gardens and nurseries of the protected areas of the Liguria Region.

Inside the garden are some plants included in the list of protected species of the Liguria Region, such as the dwarf iris and many wild orchids including flashy Provence orchids (Orchis provincialis) and Serapias neglecta. The itinerary dedicated to these very species – as an alternative to the traditional one – is called “The path of the senses”: specifically designed for young visitors, it offers a sensory journey that guides children around the different areas of the garden.

Montemarcello Botanical Garden can be reached on foot or by bike, on nature trails originating from the towns of Montemarcello and Zanego, while the main access route would take just 20 minutes from La Gruzza.

FLORA

The Garden is divided into several sections, displaying some of the plants found in Caprione; they can be visited with a guided tour and include the following areas:

the coastal garrigue with its herbaceous and aromatic suffrutticose plants like thyme (Thymus vulgaris), rue (Ruta angustifolia), helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum), bituminous clover (Psoralea bituminosa) and the rare citisus (Argyrolobium zanonii);

the Mediterranean scrub with the oaks (Quercus ilex), mastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus) , myrtle (Myrtus Communis), and strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo);

the deciduous oak forest with Turkey oaks (Quercus cerris), common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), scorpion senna (Hippocrepis emerus – Coronilla emerus), common holly (Ilex aquifolium), wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare), and warmer eastern woods like downy oaks (Quercus pudescens);

the pine forest of Aleppos (Pinus halepensis), almost 650-acre wide, truly one of its kind in eastern Liguria;

the area dedicated to traditional plants (ethnobotany) divided into three areas with officinal plants such as dandelions (Taraxacum officinale), food plants such as borage (Borago officinalis), aromatic essences such as wild garlic (Allium vineale), and mixed plants like the common fig (Ficus carica).

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)