History
Radicepura is a horticultural park inspired by the Faro family's dream to make available their own private collection of rare plants, as a result of 50 years of work and research dedicated to preserving the biodiversity, a true treasure of this territory. With this objective, the Radicepura Garden Festival, held since 2017, is the first international event dedicated to promoting the culture of the Mediterranean garden, involving major protagonists of landscaping, art and architecture, as well as designers and scholars.
As visitors walk along a botanical path that hosts rare species and unique specimens, such as the Encephalartos, a genus of ancient cycads belonging to the Zamiaceae family, they encounter permanent installations and gardens designed and created by François Abelanet, Paolo Pejrone, Michel Péna, Antonio Perazzi, and Andy Sturgeon, in dialogue with works by contemporary artists such as Emilio Isgrò, Alfio Bonanno, and Adrian Paci.
The theme of the 5th edition is Chaos (and) Order in the Garden.
The park is located beneath the shadow of Mount Etna, where the fertile soil has allowed the proliferation of more than 3,000 species, totaling 5,000 plant varieties. The park is further enhanced by the “Palace,” the headquarters of the Radicepura Foundation, and the “Palmento,” a gem of industrial archaeology, where Etna's wine was produced and which served as the setting for The Godfather II.
The “Greenhouse” houses several tropical plants including a specimen of Ravenala madagascariensis and a Cyathea australis.