This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)

The 1.5-acre garden of Villa Garnier was designed by Charles Garnier, who most likely asked for the knowledgeable help of famous botanist Ludwig Winter. The French architect, who also designed Paris’ Opera House, lived here as well, eventually leaving the whole estate to his son Nino, another bright enthusiast. Thanks to their dedication, the villa soon became extremely popular worldwide.

Nowadays, some 27.000 sqf of the park are open to the public. The rest of the garden is used for citrus fruits, a small greenhouse, and a vegetable garden run by the Sisters of the Congregation of San Giuseppe d’Aosta who own it.

In the park, many olive trees and date palms are present with their oriental touch, as well as prickly pears, fig-trees, lemon trees, medlars, and succulent plants of Mediterranean origins.
Italian novelist Edmondo De Amicis spoke about this garden as “the palace of palms”.
In the section of the park open to the public, Maurizio Lega – the nephew of the botanist in charge of the garden – has recreated the original look of this wondrous place.

There are ten different species of palms and many centuries-old trees, like a wondrous specimen of Nolina longifolia.
A column from Paris’ Tuileries Palace is another most unusual sight right in the middle of the garden, most likely brought from France as a gift to Garnier – who happened to love that very palace and was unfortunately tasked with its demolition.

The garden offers many other stirring sights, enhanced by the nearby gulf and small harbor of Bordighera.
The visit can continue inside the Villa, now the residence of the nuns, where people can admire some frescoes showing parodies of Garnier’s guests, as well as some images of what the original place looked like.

Text source: http://www.culturainliguria.it/cultura/it/Temi/Luoghivisita/parchiGiardini.do?contentId=29152&localita=2267&area=214

photo source: http://www.sanremonews.it/leggi-notizia/argomenti/altre-notizie/articolo/bordighera-lunedi-prossimo-visita-guidata-di-villa-garnier-residenza-dellarchitetto-che-progett.html

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)