The Roots of an Ideal
A corner of nature that encompasses the perfect fusion of art, poetry and landscape, a place where the visions of Jacob Phillip Hackert and the walks of the Latin poet Horace meet. Located in the park surrounding the castle, this forest is a symbol of the new aesthetics of the 18th century, in which nature itself becomes the work of art.
Jakob Philipp Hackert , an eighteenth-century German painter, found inspiration for his Ideallandschaft , ideal visions of landscapes that reflected balance and harmony, in the natural environment surrounding the castle. One of his favorite views overlooks the gentle slope that embraces the remains of the ancient Roman settlement of Pagus Mandela : cyclopean walls, Horace's walk, the ruins of his farms and a Roman villa.
This same perspective seems to recall the gaze of Horace, turned towards the Licenza river, where he loved to walk and immerse himself in the fresh summer waters. The paths that today cross this area respect the original landscape, preserving the intact charm of a place that the poet celebrated in his verses.
An invitation to contemplation
In the 19th century, Alessandro del Gallo and Julie Bonaparte transformed part of the olive groves below the castle, creating the French-style Romantic Forest. This forest is a work of intentional landscaping, designed to evoke an atmosphere of tranquility and summer beauty. Shaded paths, open spaces and light filtered through the leaves create a fresh and pleasant microclimate, which still today invites you to stop and rest, also hosting scout camps during the summer.
The French Wood and the surrounding landscape embody the spirit of Romanticism, combining the wild beauty of nature with the aesthetic quest of art and poetry. Walking among these trees means immersing yourself in a timeless world, where Horace's song and Hackert's brush continue to resonate in the air.
The Children's Garden
Next to the Romantic Forest, under the imposing stone walls of the Belvedere, stands the Children's Garden, a small forest that further enriches the variety of the park. This space seems to enclose an intimate dimension, designed for exploration, games and moments of serenity.
