Il Giardino Della Valle, Cernobbio

In my post Colour Research: Como, Italy I wrote about Cernobbio and presented colour palettes of the charming town. Situated within the Como province, it is 2km northwest of Como and sits beside Lake Como.

I first visited Cernobbio in Spring 2011 and was overjoyed when I discovered a beautiful public garden called Il Giardino Della Valle.

Like a botanical garden, it is thoughtfully designed and abundant with colourful flowers, shrubs, trees and chirping birds. I’ve always thought of it as a secret garden: a paradise, hidden away from the main centre of the town.

However, what makes this garden particularly special is the story of how it came to be. Once a dumping ground for rubbish in between the stone walls of Cernobbio’s Villa D’Este and the Garrovo stream, an incredible lady called Mrs Pupa Frati decided to clean up and reclaim the land. With great vision, she transformed the area along with the help of some friends and her grandchildren.

More than 20 years later, this magical garden provides much joy to local residents and visitors alike. I had the honour of meeting Mrs Frati (Nonna Pupa) on my first visit there and she told me about her garden. Her kind welcome, passion and energy really inspired me and it is with great delight to be able to share her story with you too.

---