Just a few kilometers from Verona, the Sigurtà Garden Park is an authentic piece of paradise that tells a story of more than six centuries. Recognized as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, it offers a wide variety of natural attractions, including a Labyrinth, 18 ponds, magnificent blooms and extensive green lawns.
With an area of 600,000 square meters and surrounded by beautiful moraine hills, Sigurtà Garden Park in 2023 received the Garden Tourism Award, rightfully falling among the parks among the most worth visiting in the world. This award is in addition to the title of Italy’s Most Beautiful Park obtained in 2013 and the recognition as the Second Most Beautiful Park in Europe in 2015.
Sigurtà Park Attractions
The botanical and scenic wonders of this historic oasis (in fact, the park’s origin dates back to 1407) are almost endless: Sigurtà’s 60 hectares include a Labyrinth, considered among the most fascinating in the world, a rich collection of 30,000 evergreen boxwood plants, water gardens, papyrus, false papyrus, water hyacinths , lotus flowers, lilies, dahlias and the famous Butterfly Tree.
Also not to be missed is the Lovers’ Bench, inside the Avenue of Roses (a kilometer-long promenade dotted with flowering roses), decorated with majestic red roses. The most “Instagrammable” corner!
Throughout the year, the park then offers spectacular seasonal blooms. The“Tulipanomania” event, awarded in 2022 as the World’s Best Tulip Festival, celebrates one million tulips in bloom and a series of side events. From May to September, the Avenue of Roses blooms with thousands of roses, while beautiful peonies, hydrangeas and multicolored water lilies can be seen in the park. The Avenue of Flower Beds is enhanced by a wide range of dahlias and annual plants.
In addition to vegetation, the park is home to mature trees(including the Great Oak mentioned earlier, which is over 400 years old) and fossil trees, such as ginkgo bilobas and metasequoias, which are joined by decorative specimens, such as Japanese maples, known for the vibrant colors of their leaves in autumn. Exotic plants such as palms and banana trees, along with many species of limes and paulonias, complete the colorful plant landscape.
The park’s wildlife is equally interesting. At the Farm, which is always open to visitors, traditional animals such as the Paduan hen, bronzed turkey and Lessinia sheep can be encountered, as well as squirrels and green woodpeckers in the meadows. The ponds are home to Japanese carp, carassi and turtles.
A Journey through History and Nature
Sigurtà Garden Park is not only a place of natural beauty, but also offers elements of historical interest, such as the Poggio degli Imperatori, which commemorates the meeting between Emperors Joseph I of Austria and Napoleon III in 1859. Other historical points in the park include 18th-century buildings such as the Hermitage and the Castelletto, as well as a monument dedicated to the park’s founder, Carlo Sigurtà.
There are also many scenic spots suitable for photography, from the Great Grassy Carpet with its Flowering Ponds, to the Panoramic Walk overlooking the Mincio Valley. The Avenue of Roses is one of the main symbols of the park, offering a breathtaking view that seems to lead to the medieval Scaliger Castle of Valeggio.
Mode of Visit
Visitors can explore Sigurtà Garden Park in a variety of ways: on foot, by bicycle (with electric bicycle rentals available) or aboard a scenic train with narrator. For groups, an electric golf-cart with GPS is available, which can accommodate up to four people (B driver’s license required).
The Park offers a complete experience between nature, culture and relaxation, making each visit unique and unforgettable.
Sigurtà is open daily from March 8 to November 10, 2024, and tickets can be purchased at www.sigurta.it.