Images of the Hanbury Gardens (Giardini Botanici Hanbury) on Italy's Ligurian coast - taken in May 2009 and 2010. Hover over a picture to see its caption and click on it to enlarge it.
Palazzo Orengo
When Thomas Hanbury purchased the estate at Capo Mortola in 1867, the Palazzo Orengo was in a woeful state of disrepair. He restored and extended the building, emphasising its handsome Palladian lines and increasing the height of the tower (photo © hidden europe).
Palazzo Orengo
When Thomas Hanbury purchased the estate at Capo Mortola in 1867, the Palazzo Orengo was in a woeful state of disrepair. He restored and extended the building, emphasising its handsome Palladian lines and increasing the height of the tower (photo © hidden europe).
Terrace View
The Palazzo Orengo has a number of beautiful terraces, with sheer white marble surfaces and stunning views out over the Mediterranean. Here the prospect east towards Bordighera, the Ligurian resort town once so popular with visitors from England (photo © hidden europe).
Terrace View
The Palazzo Orengo has a number of beautiful terraces, with sheer white marble surfaces and stunning views out over the Mediterranean. Here the prospect east towards Bordighera, the Ligurian resort town once so popular with visitors from England (photo © hidden europe).
Garden and Palazzo
Even today, visitors to the Giardini Botanici Hanbury often have a sense of entering a very personal, even private, place. This Englishman's garden surrounding his palazzo retains a very English feel, a place that reflects Thomas Hanbury's Quaker background and a wider Quaker interest in horticulture and pharmaceutical botany. The estate is now managed by the University of Genoa (photo © hidden europe).
Garden and Palazzo
Even today, visitors to the Giardini Botanici Hanbury often have a sense of entering a very personal, even private, place. This Englishman's garden surrounding his palazzo retains a very English feel, a place that reflects Thomas Hanbury's Quaker background and a wider Quaker interest in horticulture and pharmaceutical botany. The estate is now managed by the University of Genoa (photo © hidden europe).
Dragon Fountain
The gardens at La Mortola include some remarkable garden sculptures, many pieces reflecting Thomas Hanbury's interest in the Far East. This image of a Japanese dragon in the Hanbury Gardens was featured on the front cover of hidden europe 27 (ie. our July / August 2009 issue), which had a long article on Thomas Hanbury and his garden (photo © hidden europe).
Dragon Fountain
The gardens at La Mortola include some remarkable garden sculptures, many pieces reflecting Thomas Hanbury's interest in the Far East. This image of a Japanese dragon in the Hanbury Gardens was featured on the front cover of hidden europe 27 (ie. our July / August 2009 issue), which had a long article on Thomas Hanbury and his garden (photo © hidden europe).
Riviera Exotica
For the Hanbury family, the gardens at La Mortola were first and foremost a chance to experiment with acclimatisation, and there are fine collections of plants from distant lands - among them some remarkable aloes and agaves (photo © hidden europe).
Riviera Exotica
For the Hanbury family, the gardens at La Mortola were first and foremost a chance to experiment with acclimatisation, and there are fine collections of plants from distant lands - among them some remarkable aloes and agaves (photo © hidden europe).
Palazzo Orengo
The restrained simplicity of the Palazzo Orengo is a striking contrast to the exuberant complexity of the surrounding gardens. A small exhibition on the ground floor of the Palazzo, officially opened on 21 May 2010, includes a description of the Hanbury family's impact on Ligurian life (photo © hidden europe).
Palazzo Orengo
The restrained simplicity of the Palazzo Orengo is a striking contrast to the exuberant complexity of the surrounding gardens. A small exhibition on the ground floor of the Palazzo, officially opened on 21 May 2010, includes a description of the Hanbury family's impact on Ligurian life (photo © hidden europe).
Hanbury Gardens
We have wandered the Hanbury Gardens in all weathers and at all times of day. It is an ever changing and endlessly atmospheric place, a landscape of many moods (photo © hidden europe).
Hanbury Gardens
We have wandered the Hanbury Gardens in all weathers and at all times of day. It is an ever changing and endlessly atmospheric place, a landscape of many moods (photo © hidden europe).
Hanbury Memorial
There are many touches around the gardens that remind the visitor that this was essentially a family venture, among them memorials to family members. This memorial is to Dorothy Hanbury (photo © hidden europe).
Hanbury Memorial
There are many touches around the gardens that remind the visitor that this was essentially a family venture, among them memorials to family members. This memorial is to Dorothy Hanbury (photo © hidden europe).
Giardini Hanbury
In a region of the Mediterranean noted for a galaxy of great gardens, the Giardini Botanici Hanbury stand out as among the very best. The gardens are open to the public daily, and are easily reached by bus from either Ventimiglia (in Italy) or from the French-Italian border at Ponte San Luigi (photo © hidden europe).
Giardini Hanbury
In a region of the Mediterranean noted for a galaxy of great gardens, the Giardini Botanici Hanbury stand out as among the very best. The gardens are open to the public daily, and are easily reached by bus from either Ventimiglia (in Italy) or from the French-Italian border at Ponte San Luigi (photo © hidden europe).