Parco Villa di Santa Maria, Public garden in Potenza, Italy
Parco Villa di Santa Maria is a public garden in central Potenza with landscaped sections, diverse plantings, and walking paths throughout. The grounds feature tennis courts, bocce facilities, and an active greenhouse accessible to visitors.
The park was established in 1823 as the fifth botanical garden in Italy, originally called Giardino dell'Ancilla. It initially functioned as an experimental space for agricultural research.
The space became Parco della Rimembranza in the 1920s, with 92 trees planted to honor local soldiers lost in World War I. These trees shape how visitors experience the grounds and reflect how the place serves collective memory.
The grounds are open during daylight hours and easy to access on foot from central Potenza. Those wanting to explore the different sections should wear comfortable shoes and allow time for leisurely walking through the paths.
The grounds hold a documented collection of plant species, including a monumental cypress tree cataloged in botanical records since 1841. This ancient tree still stands today and represents over 180 years of local plant history.
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