Huge century-old ficus in a Bordighera garden

Monumental trees of Bordighera

The centuries-old fig trees, wisteria and araucarias of Bordighera: where to see them and a free walking route.

Huge century-old ficus in a Bordighera garden

Where: Museo Bicknellvia Romana 39), Piazza del Capo, Lungomare Argentina
Entry: freethe Bicknell garden has free entry
Time needed: 1–2 hours for a walk
When: all yearin the morning, if you want sun
Map: the Comune has a map and a brochure on the monumental trees

Bordighera is famous for its palms, but the most impressive trees are the centuries-old fig trees with aerial roots, which exceed 20 metres in height and have trunks of over 10 metres in circumference. Among others, the Comune lists as monumental trees the ficus at the Museo Bicknell, the one in Piazza del Capo and the row of araucarias on the Lungomare Argentina. You can see them for free, just by walking.

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

The monumental fig trees (Ficus macrophylla)

They come from Australia and found a suitable climate in Bordighera. The ficus at the Museo Bicknell, in front of the gate, has a trunk of over 8 metres in circumference and is more than 20 metres tall. The one in Piazza del Capo, called “la Scibretta” and close to Palazzo Garnier, has a circumference of almost 12 metres according to the Comune and is over 120 years old. The figures vary a little from source to source.

La Scibretta is the symbol of the town: in 2017 its crown was thin, and it was treated and saved with phytosanitary assessments and pruning in 2018.

Century-old tree with twisting branches in Bordighera

The other monumental trees

Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), Museo Bicknell: more than 120 years old, it covers the façade of the museum
Araucarias (Araucaria heterophylla), Lungomare Argentina: a row about 100 years old, up to 30 metres tall
Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis): 170–190 years old, up to 40 metres
“Monet’s” olive trees: between 200 and 500 years old; Monet painted them in 1884

To see Monet’s olive trees, go to the park of Villa Pompeo Mariani, by reservation.

A walking route

Start from the Museo Bicknell on via Romana and look at the ficus and the wisteria. Then go down to the Lungomare Argentina for the araucarias and continue to Piazza del Capo, in Bordighera Alta, where you find la Scibretta.