The garden was built to cultivate citrus and exotic plants in the climate of Trentino by utilizing the southern mountain exposure.
It features a 'Casetta dei Ciucioi', a small pavilion designed in a romantic, mock-medieval style to overlook the valley.
The entire structure is carved or built into the steep dolomitic limestone of the Dos Paion hill.
The garden was once abandoned for over a century, leading to its local nickname 'the hanging garden of the spirits'.
It includes a complex hydraulic system designed to manage water runoff across the steep terraces.
The masonry incorporates numerous 'arched vaults' that act as both structural support and shelter for sensitive plant species.
Giardino dei Ciucioi is a unique 19th-century hanging garden built against the rocky slopes of Dos Paion in Lavis. Commissioned by Tommaso Bortolotti between 1840 and 1860, the structure consists of a series of terraced levels connected by bridges, staircases, and specialized architectural elements. It incorporates a blend of botanical specimens, stone masonry, and neo-medieval structures that evoke the aesthetics of Romanticism. The site remained in disrepair for decades before undergoing a comprehensive restoration completed in 2020. Visitors traverse steep, narrow paths that lead through stone arches and past remnants of ornate outbuildings. The design serves as a climatic buffer, using the thermal mass of the mountain to support Mediterranean plants in an alpine valley. It functions as a garden, a monument, and an engineering feat simultaneously.
From the topmost terrace looking down toward the valley to capture the juxtaposition of the stone architecture against the village below.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes as the stone paths are uneven and can be slippery.
The garden is strictly pedestrian and features many steep, narrow stairs, making it unsuitable for strollers or those with limited mobility.
Bring a bottle of water as there are no refreshment points within the garden walls.
Attempting to visit during heavy rain, as the stone staircases become dangerous to navigate.
Operates primarily on weekends and public holidays; check official site for seasonal closures during winter.
Stay on marked paths to protect the delicate rock structures and historic masonry.
