THE PARK
Park or garden:
Started in 1880, designed by its owners (Rosa Antonione Motta, and the current owner, Gianmario Motta), the park lies on the slopes of the hill around the villa, and has always followed a precise approach: few essences with many varieties.
Since 1996, the Motta park has been included in the list of Grandi Giardini Italiani (Italian Grand Gardens), published by FAI, and participates in the opening days of the Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane. Since 2001, the park has been included by the Regional Department of Tourism, Planning Sector Protected Areas, among the Areas of High Botanical Interest of the Piedmont Region (NO. 03 - GBS).
The peculiarity of the park, about one hectare, is the continuous flowering, from January to December, passing from winter camellias (sasanqua) to spring camellias (japonica, reticulata williamsii etc), rhododendrons, azaleas, roses, hydrangeas and osmants.
The lake front, about 100 meters long, is formed by a balustrade adorned with ancient sarmentose roses, accompanied by botanical roses and species on the aiole, recreating the sensations of the Belle Époque, with soft colors, between white and pink. Among the varieties we mention Alberic Barbier, Albertine, Aimée Vibert, Felicite Perpetue; among the species, chinensis sanguinea, hugonis, roxburgii, levigata, banksia, bracteata, gallica, canina... The winter walk is enlivened by the flowers of Sasanqua and winter camellia (over 50 plants of about twenty varieties) and the scent of Hamamelis and Chimomanthus.
Behind the villa, the green theater houses a large part of the camelieto (about 250 species and varieties). Higher up, the great hedge of satsuki azaleas, 270 plants of the same clone, planted around 1930, offers a spectacular flowering in early May. On either side are rhododendron groves, predominantly planted in the 1930s and 1940s, mostly large-flowered hybrids.
Distributed throughout the garden, large Osmanti (orange, cream and white flowers) scent the air in September - October.
Finally, the secret garden, above the green theater, recreates the continuous flowering, with winter camellias, spring camellias, roses and finally hydrangeas; the hydrangeas, represented by multiple species (macrophylla, quercifolia, arborescens, paniculata, petiololaris, involucrata) bloom from June until November.
