Historical gardens have long been recognized as a cultural heritage, living monuments and testimonies to civilization. The uniqueness of these cultural assets is protected at a world-wide, European and national level. Italy has a patrimony of approximately 5000 villas, parks and historical gardens that are subject to specific protective measures, some of which are state property and others the declared Heritage of Humanity and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The green heritage of the city of Catania expresses a cultural and scientific value on an equal level with other works of art; the historical gardens may be considered interesting open-air laboratories that enable deciphering the complex relationships binding ornamental plants with the environment through the active intermediation of man. In this framework, an investigation aimed at interpreting the botanical-cultural heritage of the city of Catania has been carried out through the study of its gardens and relative plants. To this end, an identification of the local private ‘systems of villas and gardens’ has been made, followed by the census and analysis of the plant elements characterizing such systems. This methodological approach has enabled knowing each individual garden, understanding the common features and comparing various analyzed systems. In addition to the imposing presence of Mt. Etna volcano that influences the architectonic choices and shapes the geometries of the places, the studied gardens, adjoining noble houses, appear deeply ‘marked’ by climatic and environmental factors. The vegetation is polymorphic and, as a whole, it mirrors the cultural ‘fashions’ of the time, motivated by the presence of horticultural or agrarian-botanical companies or again by the acclimation pervading in many Italian regions which contributed to the spread of new plant material. Over the course of the 19th century, the tradition of growing utilitarian plants was overturned by the mass introduction of exotic species, favoured by the Mediterranean climate. The investigation has allowed highlighting the considerable floristic wealth distinguishing the Catanese garden: approximately 200 taxa, including palms, citruses as well as unusual ornamental plants. The census of the species found and the taxonomic identification of the most representative plants has helped define a historical-anthropic landscape with its own particular identity. A case in point is the Avenue Regina Margherita, an example of ‘urban plant design’, where former residences boast miniature ‘gardens of representation’, graced by exotic vegetation. From the data collected there emerges the need for a future commitment towards augmenting interest in this widespread heritage of villas and gardens, a strategic resource for the Sicilian region, as well as the adoption of policies enabling sustainable development.

Historical gardens of Catania (Sicily)

CRISTAUDO, Antonia Egidia
2014-01-01

Abstract

Historical gardens have long been recognized as a cultural heritage, living monuments and testimonies to civilization. The uniqueness of these cultural assets is protected at a world-wide, European and national level. Italy has a patrimony of approximately 5000 villas, parks and historical gardens that are subject to specific protective measures, some of which are state property and others the declared Heritage of Humanity and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The green heritage of the city of Catania expresses a cultural and scientific value on an equal level with other works of art; the historical gardens may be considered interesting open-air laboratories that enable deciphering the complex relationships binding ornamental plants with the environment through the active intermediation of man. In this framework, an investigation aimed at interpreting the botanical-cultural heritage of the city of Catania has been carried out through the study of its gardens and relative plants. To this end, an identification of the local private ‘systems of villas and gardens’ has been made, followed by the census and analysis of the plant elements characterizing such systems. This methodological approach has enabled knowing each individual garden, understanding the common features and comparing various analyzed systems. In addition to the imposing presence of Mt. Etna volcano that influences the architectonic choices and shapes the geometries of the places, the studied gardens, adjoining noble houses, appear deeply ‘marked’ by climatic and environmental factors. The vegetation is polymorphic and, as a whole, it mirrors the cultural ‘fashions’ of the time, motivated by the presence of horticultural or agrarian-botanical companies or again by the acclimation pervading in many Italian regions which contributed to the spread of new plant material. Over the course of the 19th century, the tradition of growing utilitarian plants was overturned by the mass introduction of exotic species, favoured by the Mediterranean climate. The investigation has allowed highlighting the considerable floristic wealth distinguishing the Catanese garden: approximately 200 taxa, including palms, citruses as well as unusual ornamental plants. The census of the species found and the taxonomic identification of the most representative plants has helped define a historical-anthropic landscape with its own particular identity. A case in point is the Avenue Regina Margherita, an example of ‘urban plant design’, where former residences boast miniature ‘gardens of representation’, graced by exotic vegetation. From the data collected there emerges the need for a future commitment towards augmenting interest in this widespread heritage of villas and gardens, a strategic resource for the Sicilian region, as well as the adoption of policies enabling sustainable development.
2014
978-88-97987-03-1
Historical gardens; Cultural heritage; Flora; Catania; Sicily
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/84971
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