Designed in 1851 by architect Giovan Battista Filippo Basile, Parco Piersanti Mattarella was once known as the English Garden. Let’s step inside this green oasis in Palermo. It offers a refreshing escape from the city’s hustle.
Parco Piersanti Mattarella wasn’t designed in the measured Italian style. Instead, Basile embraced the natural lay of the land. He created an English-style garden. This design choice reflected a popular 19th-century trend.
To enhance the park’s exotic atmosphere, botanist Vincenzo Tineo collaborated with Basile. They selected plants from around the world. Tineo was the Director of Palermo’s Botanical Garden.
The park is divided into two parts. These parts are separated by Viale della Libertà . There is the woodland and the parterre. The woodland features hills and small valleys. These undulations were incorporated into Basile’s design. Originally, dirt paths wound through the woodland. Today, these paths are covered in asphalt.
Hidden within the woodland is a small temple. Ernesto Basile designed it. The temple’s design draws inspiration from Arab-Norman architecture. A glass and cast-iron greenhouse also stands in the woodland. Sadly, it’s currently abandoned and prone to vandalism.
Scattered throughout the Garden Piersanti Mattarella are sculptures. One notable work is Benedetto Civiletti’s depiction of Kanaris at Scio.
The parterre was once known as Villa Garibaldi. It is now dedicated to the memory of judges Falcone and Morvillo. Here, you’ll find an equestrian monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi. Vincenzo Ragusa sculpted this monument. It was unveiled in 1891 during Palermo’s national exposition. Mario Rutelli added two reliefs. They depict “The Landing in Marsala” and “The Battle at the Ponte dell’Ammiraglio”. He also created the Lion of Caprera.
Near the monument to the fallen in Cefalonia stands a memorial to Pompeo Colajanni. Colajanni was a partisan. He helped liberate Italy from the Nazis. He also contributed to Sicily’s liberation.
Parco Piersanti Mattarella showcases works by Ernesto Basile, Benedetto Civiletti, Vincenzo Ragusa, and Mario Rutelli.
The park boasts numerous exotic plants. Many were sourced from Palermo’s Botanical Garden. Towering Ficus macrophylla trees dot the landscape. Ancient Cycas revoluta plants add to the park’s charm. Small groves of dragon trees thrive here. The fragrant blooms of Dermatophyllum secundiflorum and Jacaranda mimosifolia fill the air. Bamboo groves sway gently in the breeze. You can also find the Australian flame tree and the sacred banyan tree.
Imagine this garden illuminated. Sadly, the lighting system has been out of service for 19 years. This has made the Garden Piersanti Mattarella more vulnerable to vandalism. Despite this, the park remains a treasured green space. It offers a glimpse into 19th-century garden design. It’s a place where nature and art intertwine. Take a moment to appreciate the history and beauty. This is Parco Piersanti Mattarella.