The Garden
Foto: Peter de Ru
The design of the garden still follows Munthe's intentions Leaving the Villa one passes under an open Gallery which then becomes a pergola and later opens into a series of terraces with splendid panoramic views. Here are to be found the more secluded and open corners of the garden
Everywhere pots, amphoras and various "objets d'art" are to be seen. Many different flowers come into bloom - camellias, flowering ash, azaleas, Chinese wisteria, hydrangeas, roses, agapanthus, busy Lizzie and hundreds of other plants from thr Mediterranean region and other parts of the world. The indigenous wild flowers include acanthus, myrtle, broom, rock rose and many others. The predominant tall tree species are the pine, palm and cypress.
Thanks to its geographic position the garden remains fresh and green all year round. During the hottest period of summer the pergolas offer refreshing shade to the visitor.
From: Axel Munthe's San Michele. An Illustrated Guide, Stiftelsen San Michele, Napoli 2006. Text by Levente Erdeös.
