Hanbury Botanical Gardens is aRegional Protected Area (R.L. 31 of March 27, 2000) covering an area of about 19 hectares, which corresponds to the old Hanbury property.
The Regional Protected Area is also the manager of two Special Areas of Conservation of the Natura 2000 Network of the Habitats Directive EU 91/43 which are one on land (IT 1316118 Capo Mortola) and one at sea (IT 1316175 Fondali di Capo Mortola – San Gaetano), which are home to plant and animal species as well as European protected habitats such as Posidonia oceanica meadows.
Also in the stretch of water in front of the Regional Protected Area is also managed theCapo Mortola Marine Protection Area, which extends the protection of the seabed to a depth of 50 meters. Here there are important underwater shallows with coralligenous and a karst spring of fresh water at a depth of 36 m, called Polla di Rovereto.
Palazzo Hanbury, also known as Orengo, hosts art exhibitions and conferences throughout the year, and, during the summer season, a program of events (concerts, theater and music), and sea activities (canoeing, snorkeling, etc.).
Currently, the best way to visit the Capo Mortola Marine Protection Area is to contact the Planet Blue Society and arrange an activity at sea: get involved in a simple trip on the Dyrius boat, choose to participate in a dive from among several proposals (including night dives), or take part in one of the different courses scheduled (diving, nitrox, instructors, videosub, tek, etc.).
There are a number of areas in the gardens where wild plants are allowed to grow so that the seeds reach maturity and are available for collection; there has also been a laboratory for the conservation of Ligurian plant diversity, the Ligurian germplasm bank, since 2006, where seeds of rare, endemic, endangered species of Liguria are preserved.
You can enjoy beautiful blooms all year round, (plants from the southern hemisphere with blooms in our winter time). Thomas Hanbury spent only the summer period in England and favored the presence of blooms during the time he spent in the Garden, and he had a tradition of counting the many winter blooms in the first week of January, a tradition that continues to this day.
Marine Protection Area and Regional Protected Area.
A bit of history
In 1687 Thomas Hanbury (1832-1907), after having made considerable fortunes in China with the spice, tea and silk trade, being in the Riviera for treatment, passed Cape Mortola one day during a boat trip and was struck by the landscape and climate of the area, decided to purchase the villa and land where he created the large garden that retains his name.
The building, (Palazzo Orengo), built by the noble Lanteri family in the 11th century, probably on the ruins of an ancient Roman villa, was renovated, as were other rustic cottages present, and a new water supply system was built.
His brother Daniel, a botanist and pharmacologist, contributed greatly to the creation of the garden; he imported plants of considerable botanical and pharmaceutical interest from distant regions, providing the scientific basis for the planting of the acclimatization garden.
Interesting architectural elements are present, in part of oriental origin and/or inspiration, given Thomas Hanbury’s years spent in China: Dragon Fountain, Moresco Mausoleum (designed and built in 1886 by architect Pio Soli of San Remo), Japanese Bell, used by T. Hanbury to mark the beginning and end of his gardeners’ workday (bronze, from a Buddhist temple destroyed by fire, 1764 Kanda), the Nirvana Fountain (built in 1872 and designed by Ludovico Winter), the Temple of the Four Seasons (placed in 1947 and from the English Park in Kingston, Hanbury property), the Fountain of Sphinxes, the Fountain of the Faun, the Veneto Well, the Pavilion (small temple built to a design by Thomas Hanbury).
After the death of Thomas Hanbury, whose tomb can be seen at the same gardens, his son Cecil continued the work together with his wife Dorothy. During World War II, the Gardens, occupied first by Italian troops, then by German troops, suffered very serious damage. 1944 was the black year for the property, which was bombed, looted and abandoned; signs of the bombing can still be seen in the stems of some of the palm trees.
Following the war events, the entire complex was purchased by the Italian state in 1960 and in 1983 entrusted to the University of Genoa, which became operational in 1987.
Thomas Hanbury maxims:
“Distribute seeds and plants to encourage others in their love of nature.”
“Never go against nature.”
Guests received in the Garden by Thomas Hanbury:
Queen Victoria, Churchill, Chinese Ambassador to London (who donated the symbol “Fo” meaning good luck, placed on the entrance portal to the garden)
Practical information
For more information visit giardinihanbury.com.
Address
Hanbury Botanical Gardens
Corso Montecarlo No. 43, La Mortola, 18039 Ventimiglia (IM) – Italy
Hours
Spring/Fall
March 1 to June 15 and Sept. 16 to Oct. 15
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. exit by 6 p.m.
Summer
June 16 to September 15
09:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. exit by 7 p.m.
Winter
October 16 to the end of February
09.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. exit by 5 p.m.
Rates
Single full ticket
euro 10.00
School ticket (min. 15 pax)
euro 6.00
Group ticket (min. 20 pax)
euro 7,50
Reduced single ticket
(over 65, children 6/14 years old, FAI-T.C.I associates, Coop members, Camperlife members)
euro 8.00
Family ticket (2 adults + children 6/14 years old)
euro 25.00
NEW: ALCOTRA PASS!
VISIT AT LEAST TWO BOTANICAL GARDENS AND GET A 25% DISCOUNT ON THE SECOND GARDEN VISITED AND ON THE THIRD, PAY ONLY THE FIRST GARDEN AT FULL RATE.
HOW. PICK UP THE ALCOTRA NATURE AND CULTURE 2 CARD AT THE TICKET OFFICE OF THE FIRST GARDEN VISITED AND GET A GARDEN STAMP.