An itinerary amidst the greenery of Gardone Riviera - Gardone Riviera is quite proud of its public and private parks and gardens. Its well-tended grounds give this lake resort a serene and charming air that has attracted numerous loyal tourists since the early 20th century, when many wealthy aristocrats arrived from beyond the Alps. Since then, the vegetation has harmoniously blended with the myriad styles of private homes whose architecture reflected classic Mediterranean design or the great Italian renaissance tradition. This itinerary lets you discover these lovely verdant areas.
Near the pier you can admire the garden of the legendary Grand Hotel, the famous hotel where Luigi Wimmer and his wife launched their successful entrepreneurial career. Its splendid magnolia blooms during Easter week, adding color and fragrance to the square. The three-story building has a modernistic spiky tower.
Climbing the Scaletta delle Poste (the stairway to the postal office and Garda community), you will walk along Via Roma, which will take you to the extravagant Heller botanical garden. The garden, which has been owned by the André Heller Foundation (a famous Austrian playwright) since 1988, is home to more than 500 species of plants from every continent and climate. Czech dentist and naturalist Arturo Hruska, who came to Gardone Riviera because he was attracted to the mild climate, deserves credit for this natural jewel: From 1910 to 1971 he planted different species in the two hectares next to the villa, recreating the striking natural habitats of these plants. Numerous tropical aquatic plants decorate typical Japanese ponds, a thick forest of bamboo is composed of every imaginable size of bamboo cane, and alpine flowers in "rocky" settings with real ravines and crevasses are just some of the marvelous things to see. There are countless ferns, including the Osmunda Regalis, and flowers, including gorgeous Tibetan primroses and iris, and also magnolias.
The tree-lined lane leads directly to the city park with a monumental holm oak. Follow the signs to Villa Alba: owned by the town since the sixties (including the park), the residence was once the home of the Langensiepen family. German architect Schaefer designed the neoclassical villa in the early 20th century. Its unusual U-shaped layout made it possible to plant a splendid English-style garden at the back and build a conservatory that was recently transformed into a conference hall. Splendid columns decorate the façade, and the loggia is supported by beautiful caryatids. The gable is ornately decorated with bas-reliefs, and the majestic monumental staircase can be seen from the state road.
Another unique residence is Villa Fiordaliso, famous for having lodged Mussolini and Claretta Petacci in the "red room" in the fall of 1943. This romantic villa on the lake Garda is surrounded by a lush park full of century-old trees. Initially owned by Otto Vèzin, an American of German origin, after being expropriated during World War I, it was bought in 1928 by Emilio and Paola Botturi-Polenghi. A subsequent remodeling project added frescoes and Venetian Renaissance style alongside local stylistic elements.
Our itinerary ends at the renowned Vittoriale, Gabriele D'Annunzio's residence starting in 1921. The poet's regal residence and museum-temple is surrounded by a garden with countless cypress trees in every corner and a variety of elements, including war relics, such as the bow of the "Puglia" ship, a sarcophagus at the centre of the mausoleum where his fellow soldiers from the Fiume battle lay at rest, and an open-air theater, which was completed after the poet's death and is now used for prestigious theatrical and musical events during the summer.
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Testi : Chiara Pea