Since 1957, in the Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, the extraordinary flowering of 80,000 bulbs announces the arrival of spring. Every year this floral display offers visitors a new colourful spectacle, skilfully created by the expert gardeners who work in the park.
At this time of year, the garden becomes nothing short of an artist’s palette – thousands of bulbs belonging to about 70 varieties with different shapes and hues, colour the park’s lawns and flowerbeds.
The main attraction of the event is undoubtedly the Tulip Labyrinth, a 400 metre-long winding path where visitors will be immersed in an unparalleled atmosphere created by seductive tones and colours.
Did you know that the first tulips originated in Turkey and not Holland? In fact, tulips were brought to Europe by the Turks, more specifically from Kazakhstan to Holland by way of the Ottoman Empire. It is believed that their name derives from the Turkish term “tullband”, translated into English as “turban” precisely because of their particular shape.
Among the most prized varieties are the “Carnaval de Nice”, which closely resemble peonies; lily-flowered tulips such as the “Ballerina” and the “Vincent van Gogh” fringed tulip named after the famous painter. The range of colours present is also endless and the combinations are spectacular, such as the white/red combination in the upper part of the park.
A captivating walk among the flowers will bring you close to nature, its colours and scents.
In addition to the brilliant colours of the tulips, visitors can also admire the collection of hyacinths, a generous flowering of Camellias, Magnolias, Rhododendrons, Daffodils, Violets and … a colourful blue carpet of Grape Hyacinth in bloom.
