Hanbury Gardens

For those with a deep knowledge of Liguria on the Côte d’Azur, the Hanbury Gardens are an institution.

In fact, this magnificent park is often chosen by those who want to take a break from sunbathing on the beach, by those who want to stretch their legs a little after a lunch by the sea or by those who simply want to enjoy a relaxing break in the midst of history and nature. .

To all travelers arriving on the Riviera for the first time, however, I recommend that you dedicate a couple of hours to discovering this magnificent enchanted garden just a few steps from the Balzi Rossi .

Hanbury Botanic gardens

Ventimiglia’s Hanbury Botanic Gardens stretch out over the cape Mortola headland, a few kilometers from the French border, on an area of about 18 hectares, partly cultivated by a garden with subtropical plants and coming from the different Mediterranean climate areas (Mediterranean Basin, California, Chile, South Africa, Australia).

The rest is occupied by spontaneous Mediterranean vegetation, arboreal and shrub.

The headland enjoys an exceptionally mild climate, with winter lows rarely reaching 0°C; the existence of different microclimates has favored the planting and acclimatization of essences from different latitudes.

The History of Hanbury Gardens

The Gardens originated in 1867, when Thomas Hanbury bought the ancient Palazzo Orengo and the land owned to transform it into an acclimatization garden for exotic plants.

Brother Daniel, pharmacist and botanist, played a significant part in the conception and implementation of the project. About half of the territory was devoted to the cultivation of exotic plants from the most diverse countries, gathered on the basis of systematic, phytogeographic, ecological, aesthetic-landscape criteria.

Since 1867 Thomas Hanbury has established contacts with gardens on both the nearby French And other areas of Europe. In the following years, the development of the Gardens gained a great boost thanks to the collaborations with scholars from all over the world.

Already at the death of Thomas Hanbury in 1907, the Gardens were known all over the world for their wealth of tropical and subtropical plants and for the scientific importance of the collections. Thomas’s son, Cecil, left the garden in the hands of his wife, Lady Dorothy, who gave impetus to the landscaped aspect of the garden, creating panoramic views, avenues, paths, fountains.

During the Second World War, the Gardens suffered very serious damage.

In 1960, Lady Dorothy sold them to the Italian state. Since 1987 they have been managed by the University of Genoa and since 2000 they have been a regional protected area.

Visiting the Gardens

Visiting the Hanbury gardens is always a pleasant experience: the plants are grown following the life and reproductive cycles, so in every season you will have the opportunity to see both plants in full bloom and plants at rest.

In fact, at any time of the year, you will have the opportunity to witness the riot of colors of some native or tropical species.

The tour is also made irresistible by the architectural elements scattered throughout the property including statues, fountains, stairs and arches.

The property is also steeped in history as many of the oldest elements have been retained, such as the enclosing walls and the ancient Via Julia Augusta.

This Roman road that crosses the property divides it between north and south. It was the access to the property before the Napoleonic road was created.

My advice is to take a map of the park and go in search of the many corners created by the Hanbury family. Here are some clues:

• Cypress Avenue
• Moorish kiosk
• The Topia
• The Walloon
• Four Seasons Scale
• Stalate Cave
• Scale of amphorae
• The rocky garden with papyri and aquatic plants under Nirvana.
• The Australian Forest
• The House of the Sun
• Biodiversity Greenhouse
• The Rustichouse
• The Garden of Perfumes
• The Italian-style gardens
• Citrus groves
• The Exotic Orchard

Hanbury Gardens: How to get there

• Cars: Highway A10 exit Ventimiglia continue on SS 1 Aurelia towards France, crossing Ponte San Luigi-km.6
• Train: Ventimiglia railway station + taxi or bus (LINE 1 – stop: La Mortola)

Hanbury Gardens: times and prices

• from 1st March to 15th June and from 16th September to 15th October 9.30am – 5pm exit by 6pm
• from 16 June to 15 September 9.30am – 6pm exit by 7pm
• from October 16th to February 28th 9.30am – 4pm exit by 5pm

From 1st November to the end of February: closed on Mondays – Closed on 25th December – Open on 1st January

Visiting time

• 1h – 1h30 minimum

Rates

• Single full ticket: 9€
• School ticket: euro 6.00 – min. 15 pax
• Reduced single ticket: € 7.50 – groups (min.20 pax) over 65, children 6/14 years
• Family ticket: euro 25.00 – 2 adults + children 6/14 years
• Audio-video guide rental: 5 euros – free for blind people thanks to a dedicated application

FREE ENTRANCE for:

• Employees of the University of Genoa, employees of the contracting company, family members of the workers in service at the Giardini
• Students of the University of Genoa
• Children under the age of six, accompanied by parents or other relatives
• Accredited journalists
• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Members

Conclusion

Now that you’ve come to the end of this Hanbury Gardens guide, I’d know exactly what to expect from this amazing park.

Whether you have interests in history, botany, and culture, or simply want to carve out a part of the green during your trip to Liguria, I highly recommend a visit to this magnificent monument to nature.

Did you like the guide? Did I miss something? Have you visited Hanbury Gardens before?

Write it in the comments and share with me and other readers your personal experiences!