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History
Learn about the history of the botanical complex on Elba Island
The Giardino dell'Ottone features a remarkable history, which began many years ago in the early 1900s. We would like to share with you how the founder, Giuseppe Garbari, developed a wide collection of botanical species from various exotic countries in this corner of Elba Island. Graden's value undoubtedly lies in its rich botanical collection, which is extremely valuable both for the diversity of the specimens and their age. It stands as a testament to the culture that led to the creation of the first acclimatization gardens, designed to test the adaptability of exotic plants in the open air.
“If at the Ottonella one can see species of palms that cannot be found growing in the open air in other gardens, I owe it to my dear friend Dr. Garbari. It is also to him, above all, that I owe the numerous and splendid specimens of cycads which, taken from his rich collections, he wished to have brought and planted in the open air at the Ottonella.”
G. Roster 1904
100 years of history:
a journey around the world
1903
The birth of Giardino dell’Ottone
Giuseppe Garbari, a wealthy textile merchant and art collector originally from Trentino, founded the garden in the enchanting bay of Portoferraio, in a prime location just 400 meters from the sea, thanks to its favorable climate. Having developed a passion for exotic plants during his many travels, Garbari turned the park into a natural acclimatization laboratory.
A scientific, visionary bond
Garbari was a close friend of Giorgio Roster, founder of the Giardino dell'Ottonella (1896). The two shared studies and visions on the role of experimental gardens in Italy.
1913
An increasingly rich garden
Only ten years after its foundation, the Garden boasts 36 species of palm trees grown in the open air. By the end of the year, there will be 50 varieties, including some of the rarest in Europe.
The 1950s
The relaunch with Prof. Lami
Agronomist and landscape architect Francesco Lami starts a major restoration and enhancement project, blowing new life into the garden after years of neglect.
1975
A landscape to protect
The Garden is recognized as a landscape heritage site, protected for its historical, botanical, and environmental value.
1986
New species and new trails
The botanical area is undergoing further expansion, with the introduction of new tropical plants and the creation of a first structured itinerary for visitors.
1990
Scientific and public appreciation
The Garden is initiating a species census and opening up to guided tours and workshops, establishing itself as both an educational space and a center for research.
2024
A new look for the future
Its management has been entrusted to architect Carlo Ederle and Dr. Francesco Marino, whose goal is to strengthen the scientific and educational character of the garden, combining conservation, dissemination, and contemporary design.
"It is also worth noting that Giuseppe Garbari, a wealthy landowner from Munich and former owner of a garden in Trento, purchased a plot of land next to the Ottonella, where he began planting exotic species on the advice of Roster himself. The collaboration between the two enthusiasts proved so fruitful that, when Roster passed away in 1927, Garbari completed the experiments and later sold the property."
(M. Ambrosoli, Alberate imperiali per le strade d’Italia: la politica dei vegetali di Napoleone, in Quaderni storici, vol. 3, 1998, p. 708.)
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Stories from the Garden
At sunset
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Portoferraio - Località Ottone, 3
57037 (Li) - IT
P.Iva 01828760494
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