The elegant but rather austere eighteenth century façade does not give even a hint of the welcoming secrecy of the garden. Nothing can be guessed from outside, but after passing through the doorway into the first courtyard, guests are welcomed by a game of carved box hedges, salvia splendida and a pond containing water plants.
The Garden of Palazzo Fantini
The courtyard is surrounded by private entrances and a series of buildings which were once part of the farm.
Suddenly there is a surprise, an Italianate garden which is raised in comparison to the level of the house, and which can only be reached by a flight of steps by the side of a large bulkhead. The garden consists of various sections which are set down on the hill and on the slope.
The garden was designed in the nineteenth century, reflecting the classical themes of the period, such as the secret paths, the fountain with water lilies, the precise geometry of the hedges, the topiary hedges and the ancient rose bushes with lamb’s ears plants and borders of “old-fashioned” flowers, such as dahlias, begonias, irises and lantanas.
Further up the hill, there is a park of ancient trees, such as cedars of Lebanon, holm-oaks, horse-chestnuts, acacias, limes and oaks, as well as the lawns beneath them, with wild flowers such as daisies, violets, primroses and cyclamens.
This part gets mysteriously lost in a rocky garden with romantic nineteenth-century-style steps and walls, and quiet little paths.
The dark green of the box hedges forms a contrast with the red and yellow horizontal stripes painted on the internal walls. According to local tradition, farm buildings used to be painted with the typical motif of two-colour stripes. The charming lemon-house forms a frame for the central flower-bed.
The garden belongs to the “Grandi Giardini Italiani” association.
Visits to the garden and the Museum of Country Civilisation can be arranged by appointment only from April to October.
During winter months, from November to March, the garden is usually closed, except for some exceptional opening. For more information you can contact us at the numbers +39 347 97 34 350 or +39 0546 943 926.
FULL
Ticket € 10,00
Ticket and guided tour € 15,00 (by reservation)
Groups: minimum 10 people with guided tour € 10,00 (by reservation)
REDUCED
Members of the Italian Touring Club, ADSI and FAI:
Ticket € 8,00
Ticket and guided tour (by reservation) € 12,00
Children from 3 to 12 years € 4,00
FREE TICKET
Children under 3 years old
If you are looking for a place to stay a couple of night please contact Torre Fantini.