In June 2024, the Botanical Garden closed to the public to allow restoration and enhancement works funded with €2 million through the Italian Ministry of Culture’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

The project included actions across several areas: the plant collections and garden design, the architectural and sculptural heritage, technical systems, safety and accessibility, as well as enhancement and communication activities.

Plant Collections

The project included the expansion and integration of the Botanical Garden’s collections. Among the many initiatives carried out were:

  • the creation of a new Iris Garden next to the existing collection;
  • the creation of the “Carnivorous Plant Bog Garden” in the small pond located in the Gymnosperm Section, where specimens of Sarracenia spp. were planted;
  • the creation of a Bamboo Garden in the northern area of the Garden, with the planting of bamboo cultivars belonging to the genera Bambusa, Phyllostachys, Sasa, Pseudosasa and Shibataea.

The Bamboo Garden also included the installation of Corten steel edging to define the boundary between paved areas and lawns, as well as the creation of internal pathways to improve access to an area that was previously unavailable to visitors.

The project also provided for the enhancement of several historic collections through the introduction of ancient cultivars, as well as modern cultivars and wild species, including:

  • Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.);
  • Roses (Rosa spp.);
  • Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp. and related genera);
  • Camellias (Camellia spp. and related genera);
  • bulbous and rhizomatous plants (including Tulipa spp., Crocus spp., Fritillaria spp., Narcissus spp. and Gladiolus spp.);
  • aquatic and wetland plants, both native species and ornamental varieties.

A particularly significant intervention involved the restoration and redevelopment of the Scopoli Greenhouses, aimed at improving visitor access to the spaces, enriching the botanical collections under suitable temperature and humidity conditions, supporting educational, museum and research activities, and allowing the areas to be used as creative laboratories.

The Orchid Greenhouse has been converted into the Botanical Garden’s ticket office and bookshop.

Architectural and Sculptural Heritage

The commemorative shrine located along the perimeter wall was restored. Dedicated by Domenico Nocca to Emperor Francis I of Austria, known as the “Emperor of Flowers”, it dates back to 1818.

Restoration works were also carried out on the fountains of the Triton, the Frogs, Scopoli, the Azaleas, and the Weeping Trees Pond, including repairs to the underlying surfaces and waterproofing works.

Technical Systems

The project included the renewal and improvement of the hydraulic systems supplying the Botanical Garden’s historic fountains, as well as the installation of an automated, remotely controllable irrigation system.

A filtration system was also introduced to remove iron, limestone and silica sediments, helping to prevent deterioration of the sculptural features of the fountains and the functional components of the irrigation system, while reducing future maintenance requirements.

A functional and decorative night-time lighting system was installed throughout the Botanical Garden, improving opportunities for visitors to enjoy the Garden.

Safety and Accessibility

The most visible intervention in this area was the improvement of the historic entrance from Via S. Epifanio, including the restoration of the stone staircase and the installation of a ramp to overcome the difference in level between the entrance and the internal pathways.

This work has improved accessibility for visitors while enhancing the original entrance to the historic complex.

Enhancement and Communication

The project also included a range of initiatives aimed at increasing public engagement and improving communication:

  • the publication of a volume documenting the historical, artistic and botanical knowledge related to the transformations of the Garden and its surrounding area;
  • the development of an app featuring educational trails and games to be used during independent or guided visits, encouraging observation, investigation, exploration and research into the species housed in the Botanical Garden and its history;
  • the expansion of existing signage with new information panels;
  • the creation of educational kits for self-guided exploration of the Garden;
  • the development of a dedicated pathway for visitors with additional support needs, designed in collaboration with ANFFAS.