Filoli

Filoli is a country estate in Woodside, California with a main house and landscaped gardens. The main building covers more than 5,000 square meters (54,000 sq ft) of living space across multiple floors, while gardens spread over about 6 hectares (16 acres) around it.

A mining entrepreneur commissioned the estate in the years before World War I and hired a Californian architect to design the main house. Later the property came into the hands of another family who added new sections to the gardens.

The gardens follow a clear structure of paths, terraces and enclosed areas combining Italian symmetry with English planting ideas. Visitors can see how different garden rooms are separated by hedges and walls, each creating its own character.

Access starts at the main entrance where paths lead both to the house and to the gardens. Those planning to walk between the garden rooms should wear comfortable shoes, as paths have different surfaces.

One section of the grounds holds old fruit varieties that local growers donated during a restoration in the late nineties. These trees produce fruit rarely found in ordinary shops.

Location: California

Architects: Willis Polk

Official opening: 1917

Architectural style: Georgian architecture, Georgian Revival architecture

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Fee: Yes

Address: 86 Canada Road Woodside California 94062 United States of America

Website: http://filoli.org

GPS coordinates: 37.47039,-122.31069

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:01