Bicknell Museum

The oldest museum in western Liguria: Clarence Bicknell's collections and the big ficus in the garden.

The Bicknell Museum in Bordighera with its century-old wisteria on the façade

Where: via Romana 39Bordighera
Hours (tourist office, 2026): museum Monday and Wednesday 9 am–1 pm and 1:30–5 pm, Thursday and Saturday 2–5 pmyou can also visit on Tuesday and Thursday while it is open. Hours change often, so call first
Price: full price €5reduced rate for groups of 10 people
Guided visits and library: tel. +39 0184 263601 or +39 331 3449065bicknell@istitutostudiliguri.191.it
Duration: about 1 hour

The Clarence Bicknell Museum-Library, at via Romana 39, is the oldest museum in western Liguria: it was founded in 1888 by the English botanist, archaeologist and Esperantist Clarence Bicknell. A full-price ticket costs €5. The garden with the big ficus is free to see.

By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on 15 October 2026·2 min read

What's inside

Bicknell Museum building covered in climbing plants

Clarence Bicknell (London 1842 – 1918) arrived in Bordighera in 1878 as chaplain of the Anglican church and stayed. He studied the local flora and, from 1881, the rock carvings of Monte Bego, of which he made thousands of surveys and drawings. The museum holds his botanical drawings, natural history and archaeological finds, and one of the most prestigious butterfly collections in Europe.

The same building houses the International Institute of Ligurian Studies and the library, with tens of thousands of volumes, maps and manuscripts.

The garden and the ficus

Century-old ficus with aerial roots in the Bicknell Museum garden

In front of the museum stands a monumental Ficus macrophylla, one of the most spectacular trees on the Riviera: it is over 20 metres tall and has large aerial roots. You can also see it from the gate, and it is one of the stars of the page on the monumental trees of Bordighera. Wisteria covers the museum’s façade.

Shady garden with palms and old trees in Bordighera

Getting there

The museum is on via Romana, in the area of the 19th-century villas: Villa Etelinda and the International Civic Library are nearby. You can walk from the centre. For the car, see the parking guide.

Where it is

Bicknell Museum is in Bordighera (Riviera di Ponente, Riviera dei Fiori).

Boundaries: ISTAT, Natural Earth · Interactive map →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Bicknell Museum?

A full-price ticket costs €5. The garden, with the big ficus, is free to enter.

When is the Bicknell Museum open?

According to the tourist office in 2026: Monday and Wednesday 9 am–1 pm and 1:30–5 pm, Thursday and Saturday 2–5 pm. Hours vary, so for reliable times call +39 0184 263601.

Who was Clarence Bicknell?

An Englishman (1842–1918) who lived in Bordighera: botanist, archaeologist and Esperantist. He studied the flowers of the area and the rock carvings of Monte Bego.

Can you see the ficus without going into the museum?

Yes, the garden with the Ficus macrophylla is free to enter and can also be seen from the gate.

Where to stay