Giardino Medievale della Rocca di Angera

The Medieval Garden at the Rocca di Angera covers about 2,000 square metres between the vineyard and the fortress walls. Recreated in 2008 from medieval manuscripts and herbals, it brings together plants used for food, medicine and dyes in four distinct garden spaces.

Why it matters

The garden interprets medieval horticulture through a modern reconstruction based on miniatures in codices and older herbals. Rather than claiming to preserve the fortress’s original medieval garden, the layout presents plantings and uses associated with historical gardens. Its setting connects the cultivated spaces with the Rocca di Angera’s walls and the surrounding landscape.

What to notice

Four areas surround the small church of San Bartolomeo. The Verziere presents kitchen crops and fruit trees; the Giardino dei Principi includes a fountain, pergola and roses. Twelve basins in the Giardino delle erbe piccole contain medicinal and dye plants grouped by use. The Boschetto combines trees such as laurel, cypress, hazel, box and holm oak, ending at a stream and iris pond.

Context and history

The garden was created in 2008 as part of the Rocca’s presentation of its medieval setting. Its four sections distinguish productive, ornamental, medicinal and wooded spaces. The planting changes through the seasons, while the layout reflects the different purposes gardens could serve in a medieval household.