Il Biviere | Grandi Giardini Italiani

History

An ancient residence of the Borghese Princes, Il Biviere is a place where history, nature and vision intertwine. Once a mythical lake, later a Templar hunting reserve and then agricultural land, the area turned into a desert after being drained due to malaria. From this rupture began an extraordinary regeneration: today the site is a 3-hectare botanical garden, holding a vivid and flourishing memory.

The historic structures - the church, the villa once home to fishermen, the inn and the 17th-century granaries - mark out a path that the guided tour reveals as a story of transformation and foresight. At the entrance, the monumental Ficus macrophylla, with its powerful roots, welcomes visitors with a striking scenic impact; while the imposing cacti along the façade of the former fishermen's house stand like silent guardians of the place.

The garden alternates iconic and intimate spaces: the bamboo grove, the yucca avenue opening onto the countryside, and two majestic South American Tabebuia trees - symbols of resilience - which in spring are adorned with pink bell-shaped blossoms. Cosmos, zinnias, calendulas, nasturtiums, rockroses, roses, scented geraniums, aromatic and medicinal plants complete the landscape.

Today this legacy is brought back to life by Giangiacomo and Virginia Borghese, with a heartfelt dedication to hospitality and to the care of the place. Six new rooms have been created to bring the garden indoors: artisanal lime plasters hold botanical imprints like fossils, creating a sensory continuity between exterior and interior. Beside the residence, the organic and biodynamic citrus farm stretches over 140 hectares. Walking among the citrus groves, with Mount Etna on the horizon, restores a slow rhythm and lasting peace.

A place where memory becomes living matter: leaves, roots, light.

Grandi Giardini Italiani Srl

Grandi Giardini Italiani Srl