Gardens, vegetable gardens and centuries-old parks

Lettura: 6 min

When spring awakens, that’s when Brescia opens up to beauty in a truly amazing way. Behold nature reborn!

From Franciacorta to Lake Garda, from Valle Camonica Valley to Brescia’s plain: our province is full of splendid gardens, botanical gardens, and centuries-old parks, each with their unique personalities. These are ideal spots for enthusiasts and people willing to spend an afternoon of leisure. Get ready for an exclusive selfie: let the journey begin!

Lake Garda and its gardens full of flowers, vegetables, and lemons

The tour starts from the very natural parks and botanical gardens that have received valuable national recognition: in the Lake Garda area you can find as many as four sites included in the Great Italian Gardens circuit, as well as the André Heller Botanical Garden and the Vittoriale degli Italiani outdoor area, both in Gardone Riviera!

Isola del Garda is also worth a visit, with its impressive Neo-Gothic Venetian-style villa and sumptuous gardens, as is the park in the Castle of Lonato, an extraordinary example of a coppice forest with olive trees, vines and wild species, and scenic grassy slopes overlooking the village. All wrapped in the majestic setting of the medieval fortress!

A short distance away, the magnificent Villa Bettoni in Gargnano awaits: organized tours will accompany you to discover the noble salons that welcomed such illustrious figures as Giacomo Puccini, Victor Hugo, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Italian-style garden is incredibly charming. Set in a large park of olive and citrus groves, you can contemplate the remains of an ancient lemon house in here.

Let’s now move to one of the most important heritage sites of this area: the lemon houses of Lake Garda, where nature and tradition come together! From the most historical to those that have undergone major restoration and are now accessible to the public, here are the main ones not to be missed:

• Limonaia del Castel in Limone sul Garda;
• Limonaia La Malora in Gargnano;
• Limonaia di Villa Boghi in Limone sul Garda;
• Limonaia Pra dela fam, the largest Garda lemon house near Tignale beach, perfect for fully enjoying this very old Garda tradition.

We conclude our tour with a treat for true enthusiasts: the G.E. Ghirardi Botanical Garden in Toscolano Maderno, offering over 10,000 m² full of medicinal species from China, South America, and South Africa. A place of study and scientific research, the site is currently managed by the Department of Biology of the University of Milan.

Franciacorta and Lake Iseo: green everywhere

Hills, vineyards and much more: Franciacorta is the perfect destination for a day of greenery, history. and culture! Among the most beloved parks are:

• Zani Foundation House-Museum garden in Cellatica;
• Franciacorta Sculpture Park, visible from Albereta, a splendid relais located in Erbusco, to the nearby Bellavista and Contadi Castaldi wineries;
• Bellavista vineyards, the production heart of one of the best-known Franciacorta DOCG brands;
• Quistini Castle in Rovato, with its fabulous rose labyrinth and bioenergy garden.

Looking for a corner of paradise away from car traffic? Come discover the Conifer Botanical Garden of Ome, an oasis of peace, study, and meditation in the valley of “Fus”, where you can admire as many as 82 species of conifers from all over the world!

Just a stone’s throw from Lake Iseo, the perfect place for an afternoon cherishing nature in bloom, the Torbiere del Sebino Nature Reserve is a magical place where water and land meet to give life to an area of great naturalistic interest. As they say, seeing is believing!

On the occasion of Bergamo Brescia Italian Capital of Culture 2023, La Via delle Sorelle. Il Cammino Brescia Bergamo was created. This project was designed to rediscover the natural, artistic, and architectural beauty of the twinned provinces by indulging in time in the open air and enjoying the exceptional heritage composed of UNESCO sites, castles and monasteries, natural and archaeological areas, in a sustainable and “slow” way.

The route traverses the heart of Franciacorta, allowing you to thoroughly enjoy its enchanting spring views.

Gardens and nature in Brescia’s plain

With its beautiful sunsets, wide romantic vistas, and well-preserved castles, Brescia’s plain is dotted with green spaces which are perfect for a relaxing day. Among them, these are worth highlighting:

• Angelo and Lina Nocivelli Park in Verolanuova, with its choreographed water features and elegant pathways;
• the green area surrounding Bonoris Castle in Montichiari, with its large park filled with centuries-old trees and roof garden with a view;
• the Castle of Padernello and nearby San Vigilio Bridge by Giuliano Mauri, a highly suggestive artistic installation for a holistic experience in close contact with nature.

The centuries-old parks of Brescia’s SPAs

Brescia is the province of SPAs and wellness!

A true institution in the field of mineral water treatments, the Terme di Boario and their large park are a landmark for anyone wishing to regenerate and practice outdoor sports. 130,000 square meters of centuries-old park are ready to welcome you, with a fitness trail, a botanical garden, and Adventure Park. The SPA is amazing, thanks to its outdoor thermal water pool surrounded by greenery.

Other SPA parks in the province of Brescia:

• Parco delle Terme di Angolo (Valle Camonica): not far from Boario, along the course of the river, among small lakes, centuries-old plants, and level paths, the historic park of the Terme di Angolo offers the chance to enjoy the quiet while regenerating body and mind. The park is freely accessible. The SPA service is currently not active;
• Terme di Vallio (Valle Sabbia): with its pine forest and new botanical trail, the park of the Terme di Vallio is the perfect destination for a walk in the green, embraced by the Mediterranean climate of nearby Lake Garda.

Other parks, vegetable gardens, and gardens in the province of Brescia

Let us now approach the heart of the city: in addition to Brescia’s parks and green oases, we recommend a stop at the Montagnola Botanical Garden, a nature itinerary extended on the north side of the Cidneo hill, where the city castle stands. Meadows, wooded areas, wetlands and stony ground, waterways, ornamental garden areas and pine forests rekindle the garden, which preserves the memory of the old park closed in the 1990s.

Botanical areas and parks in Valle Camonica and in the Lake Iseo area

Valle Camonica and Lake Iseo also set the scene for botanical areas, nature oases, and parks you should absolutely enjoy:

• “Vivone” Alpine Botanical Garden in Paisco Loveno: a science popularization garden with about 400 species typical of the Eastern Orobie, the xylothek (wood collection), and an educational room enriched with bizarre objects about the world of insects and minerals. For information: www.foresteriagiardino.it;
• Erbe Danzanti Park in Paratico: in a fabulous scenic location near the lake-side walkway, this former barge docking area has been totally redeveloped with the grafting of green spaces, flower beds, and large ponds with a vintage flavor. The old freight train tracks are still visible;
• Taxodi Park in Paratico: a journey through the woods via raised walkways and more than 200 aquatic trees, discovering an environment of very high biodiversity that provides shelter to splendid specimens of grey herons.

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