From Russell Page’s writings (July 1979)

“No garden is more magic than this one. There is a great atmosphere of tranquillity, the right balance between trees and woods, the lake, the hills, the sky, the simple gardens and the sloping fields, where even the details and most cultivated areas are made of silent harmony". If I consider this garden particularly beautiful is because we, the proprietors and I, have always paid great attention at the nature of the place when placing the plants. We have created paths, green field and flowerbeds to frame and underline, to enhance and polarise the visible presence incarnated in the features of the lake".

San Liberato botanic garden covers an area of roughly 7 hectares surrounding the ancient Church of San Liberato, the Villa and rural buildings.

The garden has been developed in fifty year of creative and dedicated efforts. This has been possible thanks to the passion of Count Donato Sanminiatelli, art historian and exceptional gardener and of his consort Princess Maria Odescalchi, their son Andrea and the great British landscape designer Russell Page, who directed the composition of the garden, establishing a constant dialogue between nature and dreams.

It was spring when Russell Page saw for the first time this place in 1964. He accepted enthusiastically the invitation to make that heavenly garden an even more magic place. San Liberato had been to that point, just a heart rending little romantic church sorrounded by a forest of chestnuts trees on Lake Bracciano.

Now San Liberato is an authentic botanic garden which houses species from all around the world: Canadian maples, Japanese cherry trees, Liquidambar (sweet gum) and Parrotiae persicae (Persian ironwood), coexist with camphor trees, Liriodendra tulipiferae (Tulip tree), Nyssae sylvaticae (Black tupelo) which offer the Estate the charm of fulgent colours in autumn.

Part of the garden is nowadays dedicated to acidophilic species: a collection of Camelliae, Rhododendra, Choysiae ternatae and Black Bamboo. San Liberato is also a breath-taking rose garden. It is indeed an endless gallery of polychromatic roses, in which a stone fountain houses, as a cradle, Nymphaeae and frogs.

The church and the bell tower, framed with a centennial fig tree and cypress, are a sublime place, thanks to the panoramic view on the waters of Lake Bracciano.

This land, made of vastness and minute details, of lights and shadows, and that crescendo of flowers and plants, escort visitors through a secret world in which all apprehensions die away.

Russell Page (1906-1985) was one of the greatest landscape architects of XX century. Born in Britain, he lived in France for more than twenty years and travelled all his life, designing gardens throughout Europe, South and North America. He wrote only one book “The Education of a Gardener” (London, 1962), which is considered a must-read for anyone who is interested in gardens and gardening.

The Pond
On the east side of the botanic garden there is the Estate pond. With the romantic gazebo, covered with scented Wisteria and the Nymphaeae and Lotus flowers, it is an enchanting scenario for your photos and to celebrate symbolic ceremonies.