The most prestigious horticultural association in the world, the English Royal Horticultural Society, has selected the Gardens of Villa della Pergola in Alassio, the Botanical Garden surrounding the Relais, as their Partner Garden.

A recognition that certifies the botanical importance of the Gardens and arrives in the year of an important anniversary: 2024 is in fact the eighteenth anniversary of the rescue of Villa della Pergola from potential building speculation that could have erased its history forever.

The comment of Silvia Arnaud Ricci, art historian and owner: “It is incredible news that makes us very happy. When 18 years ago, with my husband, we decided to save Villa della Pergola from potential building speculation, some thought we were crazy, others imagined that we had some pharaonic project in mind. Instead we just wanted to send an important signal: it is possible to revive a property with great historical value by preserving, restoring and enhancing it. We have rewritten the destiny of Villa della Pergola which has become a story of resistance and resilience, in which the genius loci and love for one's land have defeated concrete and destruction.

As a family we are glad we did. We have saved a piece of the historical and cultural heritage of Alassio and the Ligurian Riviera by making it accessible to everyone."

The Royal Horticultural Society: the world's garden elite

The Royal Horticultural Society is the most important and famous charity in the world of botany, horticulture and scientific research. It is synonymous worldwide with botanical excellence and every year organizes internationally renowned events, such as the famous Chelsea Flower Show.

It was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood and is historically linked to the British Royal Family. The Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society is King Charles III, who succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in this role. Being a Garden Partner of the RHS means joining an exclusive club that includes 231 gardens of which only 27 are outside the United Kingdom, and of which the Villa della Pergola Gardens are now part. Comment from Prunella Murray, RHS Partner Gardens Manager “We are extremely proud of our Partner Gardens, each of which is unique and extraordinary. The new gardens enrich the variety and quality of the program."

The Gardens of Villa della Pergola – The rescue of a Ligurian and English history

Villa della Pergola and its Gardens have their roots in the history of Western Liguria and are the symbol of a profound commitment to cultural conservation and valorization. They exist thanks to a "crazy" gesture of love carried out by Silvia and Antonio Ricci in 2006.

A gesture which, 18 years ago, made it possible to save the buildings and the Park, and with them a part of the Alassio hill , from a building speculation that risked erasing forever a priceless historical, natural and cultural heritage.

The park was given new life thanks to the intervention of the internationally renowned landscape architect Paolo Pejrone. In the process, the history of the place was respected with the belief that a large historical park is first of all a living being, which changes and transforms with the passing of the years. New collections were created which are now famous in the botanical world, such as that of wisteria, the most important in Italy, and that of agapanths, the largest in Europe in terms of variety and vastness.

The Gardens have also given refuge to plants saved from destruction in other parts of Italy such as the centuries-old myrtle trees that come from an ancient convent in Sicily.

In this natural fresco you can find the Mediterranean and exotic evergreen flora - a distinctive feature of the park - with maritime pines, myrtles, carob trees, olive trees, almond trees, cypresses, cedars of Lebanon, holm oaks, expertly planted near jacarandas, araucarias, among other rarities such as Wollemia nobilis, giant strelizia, diksonia, cacti and canariensis palms saved from red awl. In a journey of scents and colours, the seasonal blooms of roses, tumbergies, spireas, oakleaf hydrangeas, oleanders, fragrant pelargoniums, bougainvilleas, daturas, bignonias, solanums, jasmines, lotus flowers and water lilies that live in the lakes and fountains of the park.

The impressive recovery and constant commitment led the Gardens of Villa della Pergola to win the "Most Beautiful Park in Italy" award in 2022. In May 2024 Silvia Arnaud Ricci won the Orticola-iO Donna award, for her commitment to restoring important features of the landscape and historical heritage of our country.

Thanks to continuous recognition and their international fame, the Gardens today represent one of the symbols of the city of Alassio and Liguria: considered an unmissable destination, they integrate the tourist offer of the area, contributing to making the city and the entire territory increasingly green destination emblem for botany enthusiasts.