Arboreto di Arco

Beneath Arco Castle, the Arboretum preserves roughly two hectares of the park established by Archduke Albert of Habsburg around his winter residence. Conifers, holm oaks and Mediterranean planting reflect the garden’s history and the mild climate of Lake Garda.

Why it matters

The arboretum is a surviving part of a much larger nineteenth-century park. Its planting links the Habsburg resort period in Arco with the region’s botanical setting, while its later development as a scientific garden gives the site an ongoing educational role.

What to notice

The collection includes North American conifers, Southeast Asian and Mediterranean species, as well as Australia, New Zealand and Canary Islands plantings. Holm oaks, a Lawson cypress and an evergreen sequoia survive from the archduke’s period. The garden’s smaller landscapes include a palm oasis, conifer grove, bamboo and Mediterranean scrub. Trilingual labels accompany the plantings.

Context and history

Archduke Albert built his winter residence on the hill in 1872, on land associated with the counts of Arco. The park included an older tower, farmhouse and hothouses, and its planting drew on species suited to the Garda climate. After the First World War the estate passed into state ownership and the garden was neglected. In 1964, botanist Walter Larcher was commissioned to re-establish the site as an arboretum. MUSE later assumed a scientific role through an agreement with the municipality. Restoration work completed in 2025 returned the garden’s layout and paths to condition.