Parco della Favorita, Urban park in Palermo, Italy
Parco della Favorita is a 400-hectare park at the foot of Monte Pellegrino with two broad avenues that connect Palermo to the seaside resort of Mondello. Several historic structures stand within its grounds, including a villa, a fountain, and a Chinese-style palace, each reflecting different uses of this green space through time.
King Ferdinand III created the park in 1799 after fleeing Naples, initially using it as a hunting ground and experimental farm. The space reflects the connection between royal authority and early modern innovation, as new crops like citrus fruits were systematically tested there.
The Palazzina Cinese within the park displays royal taste from the 18th century, blending European and Asian architectural elements in an unexpected way. You can observe how the aristocracy of that era incorporated their fascination with distant cultures into the buildings they created.
The park is accessible through two main entrances: Piazza Leoni and Via Imperatore Federico, both easily found in central Palermo. The paths inside are flat and straightforward to walk, making them suitable for visits at any time of day.
Since 1995, the park has been part of a nature reserve, maintaining traditional farming methods that have disappeared elsewhere. Visitors can still see fields worked using classical techniques that continue the original vision of a royal experimental farm.
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