The historic Romantic Garden of the Royal Palace in Naples will undergo an ambitious restoration that will be completed next spring. The project aims to bring the garden back to its 19th-century splendor, with a plant heritage similar to that of the mid-19th century.
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Restoration Project
The restoration works, presented by landscape architect Marco Ferrari, include a complete reorganization of the plant, plant and architectural components of the garden. Ferrari, together with the director of the Royal Palace, Mario Epifani, and the architect Almerinda Padricelli, illustrated the planned interventions. The aim is to recover the value of the botanical collecting of the mid-nineteenth century, the period in which the garden was designed by Friedrich Dehnhardt.
Arboreal and Architectural Interventions
The first interventions will concern the existing plants, with pruning to rebalance the shape and size of the trees, and any felling for site safety. The flowerbeds will also be re-profiled and the soil will be worked to improve its chemical and physical conditions. “At the same time, we will work on the recomposition of the botanical collection,” explains Ferrari, “with the planting of new trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, enhancing the garden’s perspectives and mitigating the acoustic impact.”
Accessibility and Use
To improve accessibility and enjoyment of the garden, the asphalt pavements will be demolished and renewed with surfaces in tuff cocciopesto. “It is a temporary waiver for visitors – Epifani underlines – but necessary to ensure a high level of maintenance and surveillance in the future”. A similar philological restoration will also concern the Hanging Garden and the Italian Garden.
Project Funded by the Ministry of Culture
The restoration is part of the Strategic Plan “Grandi Progetti Beni Culturali” financed by the Ministry of Culture, including the adaptation of the water-sanitary, fire-prevention and irrigation systems. The gate of via San Carlo will also be included in the project.
Technologic innovations
Once the work is completed, the wi-fi connection will be extended to all the gardens of the Palace, allowing visitors to access digital content that will illustrate the various tree species present, as announced by Almerinda Padricelli. The restoration will rediscover and enhance the scientific and botanical knowledge that has made these gardens places of experimentation over the centuries.
Article published on 25 September 2024 - 11:56
