Balio Gardens
The Balio Gardens are public gardens at the summit of Monte Erice in Erice, Sicily.
The gardens take their name from the Bajulo, a magistrate who represented the sovereign authority following the Norman conquest of southern Italy. The Bajulo resided in what is now known as the Balio Towers, which also served as a gatehouse to the nearby Castle of Venus.
The gardens are sited on 6 hectares of land surrounding the towers, previously used for grazing. At an elevation of approximately 750 metres, they overlook the Strait of Sicily and much of what is now Trapani province.
The Balio Gardens are part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani network.
History
The Balio Gardens were created in 1872 by Count Agostino Sieri Pepoli who leased the Balio Towers and grazing land from the city in exchange for restoring the towers and developing a public garden.The gardens were designed in an English garden style, featuring Mediterranean and exotic plants, paths bordered by Buxus sempervirens hedges, and areas of woodland.
Features
Key features in the gardens include:- Fountains: The Fountain of Venus and the Bee, and the Fountain of the Eye, located at the centre of a parterre.
- Pepoli Turret : A neo-Gothic folly, originally created by Count Pepoli as a place for contemplation, set on a rocky platform to the east of the gardens.
- Monuments: Busts of Giuseppe Coppola, Ugo Antonio Amico, Antonio Cordici, Giuseppe Vito Castronovo, Nunzio Nasi, and Giuseppe Pagoto ; and a Monument to the Fallen commemorating the war dead.
- Outlooks: Viewpoints over Trapani, the Aegadian Islands, the Stagnone Lagoon, Monte Cofano, and the surrounding landscape.
Restoration
The project, led by Vincenzo Giacalone and landscape architect Pietro Pio Pedone, focused on improving biodiversity, removing invasive species, and enhancing visitor accessibility.