27 January 2017
Winter in the gardens
From the writer Simonetta Chiarugi, an esclusive preview for the friends of Grandi Giardini Italiani:
Villa Arvedi and its secret gardens
Have you ever visited a garden in winter? Some gardens have no need of striking blooms, as a matter of fact this season brings out their forms and structures especially when they are historical places where the plants are often the means that defines their spaces and perspectives.
As a witness of Grandi Giardini Italiani (Great Italian Gardens), the network of excellence with over 120 of the most beautiful gardens in Italy, I visited Villa Arvedi and its garden, a majestic seventeenth-century mansion located along the slope of a hill in the province of Verona, in Grezzana, a property still owned by the family who's been living there since 1800.
Arriving by car, a boulevard, bordered by magnificent topiary hedges created by alternating yew and boxwood plants, invite the eye to reach the villa and its overlooking garden.
The Villa has its origins in 1200 and after various vicissitudes and changes around 1650 was built in its present form by the architect and sculptor Giovanni Battista Bianchi. Part of the complex is also the baroque chapel dedicated to St. Carlo Borromeo which according to the tradition was hosted during its trip to Trento for the council of 1485.
The same architect who designed the building was also involved in the realization of the Italian garden that, while reflecting the stylistic dictates of the time, reveals French influences readable on the design of the double fan butterfly wings-like parterre of centenary boxwood. The plant maintenance is taken care by one of the owners, a great job that primarily involves the pruning of the kilometers of boxwood and lasts longer than a month since the beginning of winter, flanked by the treatment against the attack of the borer, carried out during the growing season.
I was particularly attracted by the visit of the nymphaeum placed in the lawned terrace to the right of the villa, accessible through the large glass doors visually framed by two majestic trees of persimmon. I am fascinated by the nymphs, originally sacred buildings dedicated to a nymph, typically realized close to a water source. In the Renaissance and Baroque villas, particular fountains were created, often carved into the rocks or with artificial caves, columns, niches and other decorative elements, spectacularly designed to entertain and impress guests with water features. At Villa Arvedi I admired the beautiful nymph in the Baroque style, decorated with shells, mosaics and statues of figures that during the last war suffered serious damages and currently serves as a shelter for citrus plants. Inside the nymph a door leads to a room once used as an aviary, frescoes depicting blue skies and the flight of woodcock recall its origin.
The entire property was surrounded by walls dating back to the 1500s, the classic Veronese ‘brolo' which is the original settlement of the villa, some parts have survived over time, about 50 years ago, the owner had the idea to plant caper plants between the interstices of the stones and during summer they cheer the view with the flowers first and with fruits afterwards. In order to survive the winter's arrival the plants are pruned a few centimeters from the wall.
Turning away from the Villa visibly complete the estate the orderly rows of Corvina and Rondinella grapes that stretch along 6 hectares and near the Italian garden along the boundary walls, the current owners' father planted 200 cherry trees he was fond of, and close enough some trees of an old variety of figs called ‘Segalini neri', which produce small, firm and very sweet fruits.
Before leaving, a last look at the hill, as Ligurian I was impressed by the cultivation of 3,500 olive trees that surround and protect the property from the wind and allow the production of a very high value of oil produced in the XV century mill adjacent to the Villa.
If you are planning a tour to discover magical places include the visit to this magnificent mansion and garden, I'm sure you will thank for the tip!
Villa Arvedi and its secret gardens
Have you ever visited a garden in winter? Some gardens have no need of striking blooms, as a matter of fact this season brings out their forms and structures especially when they are historical places where the plants are often the means that defines their spaces and perspectives.
As a witness of Grandi Giardini Italiani (Great Italian Gardens), the network of excellence with over 120 of the most beautiful gardens in Italy, I visited Villa Arvedi and its garden, a majestic seventeenth-century mansion located along the slope of a hill in the province of Verona, in Grezzana, a property still owned by the family who's been living there since 1800.
Arriving by car, a boulevard, bordered by magnificent topiary hedges created by alternating yew and boxwood plants, invite the eye to reach the villa and its overlooking garden.
The Villa has its origins in 1200 and after various vicissitudes and changes around 1650 was built in its present form by the architect and sculptor Giovanni Battista Bianchi. Part of the complex is also the baroque chapel dedicated to St. Carlo Borromeo which according to the tradition was hosted during its trip to Trento for the council of 1485.
The same architect who designed the building was also involved in the realization of the Italian garden that, while reflecting the stylistic dictates of the time, reveals French influences readable on the design of the double fan butterfly wings-like parterre of centenary boxwood. The plant maintenance is taken care by one of the owners, a great job that primarily involves the pruning of the kilometers of boxwood and lasts longer than a month since the beginning of winter, flanked by the treatment against the attack of the borer, carried out during the growing season.
I was particularly attracted by the visit of the nymphaeum placed in the lawned terrace to the right of the villa, accessible through the large glass doors visually framed by two majestic trees of persimmon. I am fascinated by the nymphs, originally sacred buildings dedicated to a nymph, typically realized close to a water source. In the Renaissance and Baroque villas, particular fountains were created, often carved into the rocks or with artificial caves, columns, niches and other decorative elements, spectacularly designed to entertain and impress guests with water features. At Villa Arvedi I admired the beautiful nymph in the Baroque style, decorated with shells, mosaics and statues of figures that during the last war suffered serious damages and currently serves as a shelter for citrus plants. Inside the nymph a door leads to a room once used as an aviary, frescoes depicting blue skies and the flight of woodcock recall its origin.
The entire property was surrounded by walls dating back to the 1500s, the classic Veronese ‘brolo' which is the original settlement of the villa, some parts have survived over time, about 50 years ago, the owner had the idea to plant caper plants between the interstices of the stones and during summer they cheer the view with the flowers first and with fruits afterwards. In order to survive the winter's arrival the plants are pruned a few centimeters from the wall.
Turning away from the Villa visibly complete the estate the orderly rows of Corvina and Rondinella grapes that stretch along 6 hectares and near the Italian garden along the boundary walls, the current owners' father planted 200 cherry trees he was fond of, and close enough some trees of an old variety of figs called ‘Segalini neri', which produce small, firm and very sweet fruits.
Before leaving, a last look at the hill, as Ligurian I was impressed by the cultivation of 3,500 olive trees that surround and protect the property from the wind and allow the production of a very high value of oil produced in the XV century mill adjacent to the Villa.
If you are planning a tour to discover magical places include the visit to this magnificent mansion and garden, I'm sure you will thank for the tip!
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Nothing is more the child of art than a garden- Sir Walter Scott - |
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