The collection originated from Captain Giuseppe D'Ambra's 40-year career as a merchant mariner collecting specimens from his voyages.
The garden is a certified botanical collection participating in international seed exchange programs for conservation.
The park utilizes a specific microclimate created by the southern slope of the Ischian hills overlooking the Mediterranean.
It houses a 'living' museum of rare, threatened, or endangered succulents.
The on-site cafe produces its own house-made cactus-based liqueurs and jams.
The layout is designed according to permaculture principles to minimize water usage.
Giardini Ravino is a six-hectare botanical park in Forio, Ischia, housing one of the most significant collections of succulents and cacti in Europe. The garden contains over 400 species and approximately 6,000 individual specimens sourced from around the globe. It is structured as an ecological park with integrated Mediterranean flora alongside exotic desert plants. The garden serves as an educational center for rare species acclimated to the Ischian climate. The site is a family-run project initiated by Captain Giuseppe D'Ambra following his world travels. The grounds feature a bar, the Cactus Lounge Café, known for its locally sourced citrus-based beverages. The park layout utilizes winding paths that connect various climate zones and display areas. It provides a sanctuary for local bird species and pollinators.
The elevated viewing platform that overlooks the collection with the Mediterranean Sea in the background.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes to navigate the garden's unpaved, uneven paths.
Bring a hat and sunscreen as shade is limited in the exposed succulent display sections.
Visit the lounge area specifically to try the signature 'Cactus Cocktail' made with local ingredients.
Attempting to touch the cacti for photos or picking specimens, as the plant collection is fragile and protected.
Typically operates on a seasonal basis; often closed during mid-winter months and reopens in the spring.
Do not touch the plants, as many are fragile or have sharp spines; stay strictly on marked paths.
