Gardens and Parks on Ischia
Did a fairy just flit behind that pine? Is that a sea captain sleeping behind a cactus? Perhaps the imagination is running free but in Ischia's Faiano pinewood children of all ages can play at Peter Pan and Tinkerbell in the wild jungle gym. Meanwhile, at the Ravino Gardens, cactus enthusiasts will find all their succulent questions answered by the seafaring Giuseppe.
Faiano and Ravino are but two of Ischia's many varied parks, gardens and woods. The botanical Myrtle Gardens and the exotic plants of Ravino are magnificently tended gardens. Epomeo's chestnut forests and Frassitelli's acacia woods are longer walking expeditions. The aroma park beckons, calling out for a stroll after lunch through the town of Ischia, and into the Falanga, a forest rich in animals and marine fossil finds.
Explore a little deeper into what the following garden edens evoke.
'Giardini La Mortella', The Myrtle Gardens:
These prolific gardens are home to tree ferns from the southern continent, protea and aloe from South Africa, yucca from Mexico and then magnolias, bauhinias, palms and the 'mirto divino' – divine myrtle. The Myrtle Gardens were created by Susana Walton, the Argentinean wife of Sir William Walton, renown British composer
Proposing to Susana the very first time they met and moving on to Ischia shortly thereafter, the Waltons' spontaneous love has left a beautifully enduring legacy. During his lifetime Sir William's music earned him the highest English honour, the Order of Merit, while Susana continues to enhance the gardens and manage the fund dedicated to her late husband.
With inspiration from English landscape designer, Russell Page, the garden of 'La Mortella' draws on the character of its location, the surrounding buildings and the natural environment of its home on Ischia. It is divided into two parts, the Valley Garden and the Hill Garden, arranging three seasons of concert performances on the suggestive grounds. Every weekend during Spring and Autumn, the recital hall has a series of chamber music. During the Summer season, the sounds of youth orchestras reverberate out from the newly created Greek theatre.
W: http://www.lamortella.org
'Giardini Ravino', Ravino Gardens:
Why do some cactus plants mutate and not others? What does the rare Wollemi pine look like? These are a sample of questions and mysteries the Ravino Gardens may help resolve. Opened in 2001, the garden's roots extend much deeper. As a sea captain sailing the world, Giuseppe d'Ambra would return home from his many journeys with unusual keepsakes. After 40 years' travel, his collection of cacti and exotic plants were more than enough to form this unique and interesting garden in the Cuotto zone of Forio.
Giuseppe's passion went beyond cacti. The garden is now home to peacocks, goats and ponies ranging freely around the grounds. It houses a bonsai collection and a restored, old-style cellar turned into a lounge cafe. Most recently an underground garden display was added.
Ravino Garden is open to the public and on Saturdays you can take a guided tour with the sea captain himself, 'Peppino'. An evening tour highlights the homeopathic and herbal qualities of the garden's plants. Ravino also boasts art and ceramic exhibition and weekly outdoor yoga classes.
W: http://www.ravino.it
'Pineta di Faiano', Faiano Pinewood:
After Ischia's last lava flow, in 1302 A.C., the north-eastern area of the island was so barren it became known as the 'Arso', or burnt area. Five centuries later, a court botanist was employed to 'green up' the area and the pine forest of Faiano is part of his labour of love. It is the biggest of the island's pinewoods and a fresh oasis of tall trunked pines, perfumes and shadows. It's a great area for children to play. Faiano's rope nets and climbing equipment, suspended between the trees, is just the entranceway to its pinewood. It is equipped with a jogger's circuit and it is lovely and cool for long, comfortable walks. On its edge it offers a postcard picture of the Aragonese Castle, the islands of Vivara and Procida and the Neapolitan coast.
W: http://www.comunebarano.it/turismo/pineta.asp
'Bosco della Falanga', Falanga Forrest:
The Falanga is a wide chestnut forest perfect for collecting nuts and searching for porcini mushrooms while keeping an eye open for the wild rabbits and falcons. There are also some excellent examples of the stone houses dug out of the tuff rock, as well as old rainwater basins and ice storage wells. The Falanga is just next to the Frassitelli woods, from where you can launch into a longer trekking expedition up towards Mount Epomeo or else down to the district of Forio.
