Catajo Gardens

Catajo has four gardens

The "Garden of Delights" (main park open to the public)
The " Garden of Beatrice" (what little remains of the original can be seen from the GreatTerrace) 16th century
The "Garden of the Duchess" (partially visible from the last closet in the apartment) built in 18th century  for Maria Beatrice of Savoy.
The "Deer Park" ex game –preserve , it can be seen from the parking area . Deers species  are still  populating the Park up todays.

GARDENS OF DELIGHTS

The garden it is a result of many interventions , and  the adaptation of the changing fashions of architecture and garden’s landscape.
The first garden had existed in 1570’ consisted of a big orchard and fish-pond (still preserved todays) and their primary  function was to breed fish and to grow fruits.
The garden was subjected to  further changes under Pio Enea II : fruit crops were considerably reduced ,or even got rid off,  except citrous tree  in order to become a conventional garden.
The garden due  to the subsequent changes  lost much of its features, but some elements are still  recognizable, such as citrous collection , the two small fish-ponds (later  converted into flowerbeds, main paths and  hornbeams. However there is a documentation of the garden that records a description of “parterre borderie” (flower-bed) identifiable in the four squares  of the lawn , with magnolia  in the centre , at the foot of the main perron’s entrance   . Here were achieved through the pruning and shaping hedges the armorial arms of the papacy , Venitian Repubblic, The Este and the Medici  families; In the same descriptions it is mentioned also a  big fountain , a jasmin’s tower  and a boxwood s‘labirynth of which is very difficult to date back its original location. In the 18th century , new renovations took place by the influence and passion of Tommaso Obizzi , great collector ; The Park was scattered of statues, architectural elements archeological finds as well as botanical species of recent importation, such as the huge  magnolias at the main entrance , also the mammouth tree  , traditionally it is the first sequoia imported from the United States of America  into Europe.