A sea of gardens in Italy

Wayne and Coleen Rooney are now finally husband and wife, they tied the knot on 12 June 2008, in the enchanting Italian region of Liguria, also known as the Italian Riviera. The celebrity couple chose two of the most outstanding gardens of Liguria as venues for their civil ceremony, Villa Durazzo and the religious blessing, La Cervara Abbey both in Santa Margherita Ligure, near Portofino.

Villa Durazzo is a 17th century residence built by the Durazzo Marquises and it is set in the midst of a 19th century Romantic park with Mediterranean and exotic plants and a gracious formal garden recently rediscovered and promoted. One of the most outstanding features of this villa and garden is the terrace which displays decorations and arabesques in white and black stones and a great collection of palm trees and cycas.

La Cervara Abbey was founded by Benedictine monks in 1361 and it houses one of the rare monumental gardens in Liguria with pergolas and terraces built perpendicularly to the sea of Portofino. Among the botanic rarities there are a secular pepper tree and a purple wisteria which are several centuries old.

Both gardens together with 24 other magnificent gardens are now part of a new initiative “A sea of gardens” recently launched by the Councillor for Tourism of the Liguria Region, Ms Margherita Bozzano. This is the first regional circuit of historical and modern, public and private gardens which can be visited and that will no doubt increase interest in this lovely part of Italy already known for its world famous seaside resorts and impeccable standards of hospitality.

Coincidentally perhaps Ms Margherita Bozzano was in London on 12 June 08 to present “A sea of gardens” to the specialized British press. The presentation took place in the appropriate surroundings of the delightful “Petersham Nurseries” near Richmond.

For more information on “A sea of Gardens” visit Liguriagiardini.it.

For more information on Liguria, visit Turismoinliguria.it