The Orchard and the Vegetable Gardens

The new orchard of ancient fruits

To the northwest of the small historic orchard near the ruin, a new plantation has been established on the presumed site of the former farm orchard, already envisaged in the garden’s earliest design.

This new orchard is both an innovation and a revival: a project devoted to recovering agro-biodiversity while also restoring appreciation for the beauty and usefulness of fruit trees. It includes both free-standing trees (open vase form) and espalier-trained specimens.

Species and ancient varieties have been chosen among those named in nineteenth-century documents of the garden.

QR Code n. 10

The New Orchard of ancient fruits

Pear no.40 -Pyrus communis L. var. Passa Crassana (2), var. Coscia (3) Var. Bergamotta (5), Var. Bella di Giugno (5), Var. Broccolina (5), Var. Decana d’inverno (5), var. Decana del Comizio (5), Var. Spadona d’Inverno (5), Var. Favorita di Clapp (5) Apple no. 32 – Malus domestica Borkh – Var. Gelata (2), Zitella (2), Decio (5), Durello (5), Renetta (5), Limoncella (2), Rosa doppia (3), Gelata (5), Ruggine (3); Plum no. 7 – Prunus domestica L. – Var. Regina Claudia Verde (2), Regina Claudia Gialla (2), Regina Claudia Mostruosa (2), Scosciamonaca (1): Sour Cherry no. 8 Prunus cerasus L. Var. Montemorency (3), Amarena (3), Marasca (2); Sweet Cherry no. 10 – Prunus avium L. Var. Durone 1, Limona, Moscatella, Morella, Corniola, Maggiaiola; Peach no. 5 -Prunus persica L. Batsch Var. Cotogna settembrina, Carota, Sanguinella, Poppa di Venere, Buco incavato.; Quince no. 5 -Cydonia oblonga Mill. Var. Champion, Gigante di Leskovac; Apricot no. 6 -Prunus armeniaca L. Var. Reale d’Imola, Paviot, Luizet; Service tree no. 4 – Sorbus domestica L.; Common medlar no. 2 – Mespilus germanica L.; Persimmon no. 3- Dyosperus kaki Thunb. var. Tipo; Pomegranate no. 3- Punica granatum L.

The selected cultivars reflect those cultivated locally in Umbria during the 19th century, along with others introduced from France and northern Italy. Also included are less common species today, such as Dogwood (Cornus mas), Medlar (Mespilus germanica), and Quince (Cydonia oblonga).

The orchard’s entrance will be marked by two cypresses leading onto the central path and by a semicircle of espaliered pear trees along the access road. Two round “garden rooms” enclosed by espaliered apple trees will create formal spaces for pause and leisure, immersing visitors in a living architecture—a true garden of agriculture.

Each tree will be labeled for educational purposes, and the ground will be sown with flowering mixes to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Finally, the historic mulberry avenue (Morus alba and Morus nigra) will be restored, linking the orchard with the agricultural area and forming an ideal transition between garden and farmland.

The Scented Octagon

Along the southern slope of the hill on which the villa stands, a new garden feature has been created, dedicated to fragrance.
In this special corner of the park, a small south-facing terrace, sheltered from the northern winds, has long encouraged the growth of many Agave americana plants, traditionally used to adorn the stone urns on the villa’s terrace and garden walls.

Here, a small stone structure has been built, inspired by the traditional garden architectures of southern Italy, originally designed to protect citrus trees. With its octagonal plan, it recalls the domed pergolas conceived by Valadier for the great lawn in front of the villa, and it is constructed in pale stone that harmonizes with the surrounding landscape.

At the heart of the octagon stands the Marangolo, an ancient bitter orange tree, its presence enriched by the embrace of climbing jasmines weaving along the walls. The enclosing wall gathers their perfumes, intensifying their essence, while veiling the outer view to draw the visitor inward, into intimacy with the senses.

Here, on summer nights, the garden becomes an olfactory sanctuary, where fragrance itself speaks the language of memory and emotion.

The Herb Garden

Continuing along the southern escarpment, the project has enabled the restoration of the herb garden, a secluded area of the park dedicated to aromatic and medicinal plants. Once shaped into a series of small terraces supported by woven branches, this space had gradually fallen into disrepair, nearly disappearing over time.

The restoration has revived the original layout, reconstructing the ტერaces with dry-stone retaining walls—a choice that recalls traditional building techniques while ensuring greater durability and more sustainable, low-maintenance upkeep over time.