Radicepura

Radicepura is a horticultural park inspired by the Faro family's dream, particularly of the Knight of Labour Venerando Faro's, to make available to everyone his historical experience in international floriculture with his private collection of rare plants, made in 50 years of intense work. The aim is to enhance the immense botanical heritage with landscape and artistic installations.

The botanical garden is a path which hosts rare species and unique specimens such as the Encephalartos, a genus of fossil cicads belonging to the Zaminaceae family. The park is located under the shadow of Etna where the fertile soil has allowed the proliferation of more than 3,000 species, making a total of 5,000 plant varieties. The park with a capacity of 5 hectares, is self-sufficient for its energy and water supplies. The park is embellished by the “Palace”, seat of the Radicepura foundation, and the “Palmento”, jewel of industrial archaeology, where the wine of Etna was produced and set for the film “The Godfather II”. The “Greenhouse” houses several tropical plants including a specimen of Ravenala madagascariensis and a Cyathea australis.

Every two years, the park host the “Radicepura Garden Festival” which is the first international event for garden design and landscape architecture within the Mediterranean basin. Here, designers as well as institutions and household names in landscaping and architecture gather for the event. The theme of the current edition is “Garden of Plants”, which features seven gardens created by landscape designers from all over the world, along with permanent installations by James Basson, Michel Péna and François Abelanet.