"Visit to Valsanzibio Garden: Exploring the Beauty of the Euganean Hills"

Hello, my dear friends,

Today is Labor Day, so I'm basically off work. I decided to visit a dear friend of mine who promised to take me to see some beautiful gardens. I had actually been here several years ago on a school trip, but as we grow older, we tend to forget what we’ve seen.

So I thought, why not take advantage of this opportunity?

This morning I went to see the Valsanzibio Garden, a beautiful garden located in the Euganean Hills, just a few kilometers from Padova. Here, you can pretty much only visit the garden of this important villa, probably because the villa is still inhabited, making it a private residence.

This garden is quite famous in the area due to its beautiful fountains, but especially because it offers a lovely hedge maze, which, unfortunately, is currently under renovation.

The thing that struck me most about this guided visit was the large number of people there, despite it being a holiday. I think that's a positive sign, even if most of them were likely tourists. It's also nice to see some families bringing their kids to these places of art and culture.

Let me share some useful information in case you plan to visit this place. The garden is open almost all year round except for the winter period, from December to February, and it’s open every day from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The entry fee is €12. I got in for free thanks to my friend, but I think the price is a bit steep for what's available to see.

It would be a fair price if you could also visit the villa, but I later found out that they offer some promotions, like family packages to help save some money.

Historically, the villa and the garden were built in the 1600s, and they are a beautiful example of Baroque style. This residence is even called the "Little Versailles of the Berici Hills." The garden design was commissioned by the Venetian nobleman Barbarigo to Luigi Bernini, a name I'm sure you’re familiar with, as he's considered one of the most famous architects who worked extensively in Rome. I counted more than 60 statues in this garden, along with many fountains, waterfalls, and small lakes. I think the entire park spans over 10 hectares.

In conclusion, I can say that it was an interesting visit, though I have to be honest: I expected something better. The park doesn’t seem to be in the best condition, and there’s definitely room for improvement. The entrance fee also seems a bit too high, making me question whether it’s worth it for tourists to visit such an expensive place. I might recommend something else that's artistically interesting, especially given that it was designed by Bernini.

Thank you for reading my post. I hope you enjoyed the photos. See you next time, and have a happy Labor Day!