The garden on the sea at Capo Mortola
On the promontory of Capo Mortola, a few kilometres from the French border near Ventimiglia, the Giardini Botanici Hanbury are one of the most famous botanical gardens in the Mediterranean, descending in terraces from the hill to the sea. They were created from 1867 by Sir Thomas Hanbury, an English merchant who had made his fortune in the trade of silk and tea in Shanghai, and who, enchanted by the mild climate of the Riviera, bought the land around an old villa and, with his brother Daniel, a botanist, transformed it into an extraordinary garden of acclimatisation of exotic plants from all over the world.
Today the gardens, which belong to the Italian State and are managed by the University of Genoa, extend over about 18 hectares and preserve thousands of species of plants from five continents, arranged along paths, stairways, pergolas and fountains: groves of Australian eucalyptus and acacias, succulents and cacti from Africa and America, agaves, aloes, palms, citrus fruits, roses, the "Garden of Perfumes", a Japanese garden and sections dedicated to Mediterranean flora. Through the gardens runs a stretch of the ancient Roman road Via Julia Augusta, which linked Italy to Gaul, and Thomas Hanbury placed a plaque recalling the famous people who travelled along it. At the bottom, the paths reach the sea, with a small beach. The villa, the Palazzo Orengo, can also be visited.
Tip: wear comfortable shoes, the paths are steep; spring, with the flowering of roses and wisteria, is the best season.
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