Sicilian Gardens Worth Exploring

Sicily, Italy's largest Mediterranean island, is a verdant paradise teeming with historical, natural, and exotic landscapes. From the heart of Catania to the bustling capital of Palermo, Sicily's botanical gardens offer a unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty.

In the city of Catania, the Orto Botanico di Catania, founded in 1858 by botanist Francesco Tornabene, is a must-visit. This garden features themed sections, including a Sicilian garden and a Tepidarium with over 160 plant species. The garden is a living testament to Sicily's rich biodiversity, showcasing a variety of Mediterranean and exotic plants.

Just a short journey away in Palermo, the Orto Botanico di Palermo, established in 1789 by Léon Dufourny, is Europe's largest botanical garden, spanning 25 acres. This garden is home to Europe's largest ficus tree and a medicinal and aromatic plant section. The garden's plant species are organised following both Linnaean and Engler classification systems, creating a living library of plant species. Visitors can also enjoy a leisurely stroll in the adjacent Villa Giulia park, featuring marble sculptures and peaceful resting spots, all for free.

Entry to Orto Botanico di Palermo costs €7, and an audio guide is available. For those seeking a more exclusive experience, the Giardino di San Giuliano, a seven-acre garden created over 25 years by Marquis Giuseppe Paterno Castello di San Giuliano and his late wife Fiamma Ferragamo, is open by appointment only. This garden boasts eight different species of palms, creating dramatic silhouettes against Mount Etna, and water features hosting exotic plants like Victoria cruziana and Nymphaea 'King of Siam'.

The Mediterranean's green, fertile, and picturesque landscapes are evident in Sicily's vineyards, olive groves, and orchards of citrus fruits, nuts, and peaches. The Botanical Garden of the University of Palermo, located in Palermo, is worth visiting for its diverse plant collections, glass houses, ponds, and a great collection of succulents.

For a more modern botanical experience, the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, located on the edge of a nature reserve in western Sicily, offers hikes and bike rides to explore Sicily's natural beauty. The resort's hotel also features a kitchen garden where many vegetables and herbs are grown, providing produce for the evening meals often paired with Sicilian wines. Guests can even use golf carts to easily access the beach.

Sicily's cultural and botanical heritage is also evident in gardens like the Garden of Kolymbetra in the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento, which once served as a water reserve for the ancient Greek city of Akragas. This garden offers a unique blend of historical and botanical interest.

Another noteworthy garden is the Commenda San Calogero, an estate near Villasmundo dating from the 12th century, featuring mature trees, box hedging, jacarandas, old roses, orange trees, and a beautifully planted pond inspired by the Alhambra.

Lastly, the Paternò del Toscano garden at Sant’Agata Li Battiati is notable for its rich diversity of plants, including citrus, exotic plants like aloes, agave, orchids, a dragon tree, and palms. This garden also incorporates natural features such as a cave of lava forming an attractive pond.

These gardens provide a mix of historic, natural, and exotic landscapes, all adding to Sicily's rich cultural and botanical heritage. Palermo, the capital of Sicily, is known for its fig trees, and the city's botanical garden is a testament to this fact. Whether you're a botany enthusiast, a history buff, or simply a nature lover, Sicily's botanical gardens offer a journey through Italy's green heart.

For home-and-garden enthusiasts, a visit to the Giardino di San Giuliano in Palermo, Sicily, is an exclusive delight, showcasing various exotic plants like Victoria cruziana and Nymphaea 'King of Siam'.
In addition to its magnificent historical sites, Sicily also offers a unique lifestyle experience through its diverse botanical gardens, such as the Garden of Kolymbetra in the Valley of the Temples, which houses a variety of Mediterranean and exotic plants.