At a glance

Type

Private exotic botanical garden

Period

Founded late 19th century; developed through the 20th century by the Pallanca family

Style

Informal terraced garden; succulent and cactus collection

Location

Bordighera, Province of Imperia, Liguria, Italy

Coordinates

43.7880° N, 7.6878° E

Overview

The Pallanca Exotic Garden occupies terraced hillside plots above Bordighera, one of the westernmost towns on the Italian Riviera dei Fiori. The collection spans thousands of specimens representing succulents, cacti, and tropical plants assembled over more than a century of dedicated horticultural effort. The mild Ligurian microclimate, sheltered from cold northern winds by the Alps, makes this coastal strip uniquely suited to species that would not otherwise survive Italian winters.

History

Bordighera had already attracted international botanical interest in the 19th century due to its exceptional palm cultivation, which supplied palm fronds to the Vatican for Palm Sunday ceremonies. Against this background of horticultural distinction, the Pallanca family began assembling their exotic collection in the late 1800s. Successive generations expanded the garden, introducing specimens from Africa, the Americas, and Australasia to create one of the most diverse private succulent collections in Italy. The garden has been accessible to visitors for many decades, maintaining its character as a family-stewarded heritage site.

What you see

Visitors walk through stepped terraces where columns of tall cacti frame panoramic views of the Ligurian Sea and, on clear days, the Côte d’Azur. The collection includes giant specimens of Cereus, Opuntia, Agave, Aloe, and Euphorbia genera alongside rarer South American and African succulents. Labels identify each plant by scientific name and country of origin, giving the visit an educational dimension alongside its visual drama. The terraced layout means plants are encountered at varying heights, creating an immersive green corridor through a living museum of desert and subtropical flora.

Cultural significance

The Pallanca Exotic Garden represents over a century of private botanical stewardship on the Ligurian Riviera, a region that has long served as a living laboratory for plant acclimatisation in southern Europe. It contributes to the horticultural heritage of Bordighera, a town renowned since Victorian times as a retreat for artists, writers, and naturalists drawn by its extraordinary Mediterranean light and plant life.

Practical information

Address

Via Madonna della Ruota, 18012 Bordighera IM, Liguria, Italy

Opening hours

Check official website or contact the garden directly for current hours and admission fees

Admission

Paid entry; check current prices on site

Getting there

Bordighera is served by the Genoa–Ventimiglia railway line; the nearest station is Bordighera FS, from which the garden is reachable by taxi or local bus. By car, exit the A10 motorway at Bordighera and follow signs toward the hillside districts. The garden is approximately 3 km from the French border at Ventimiglia, making it accessible on a day trip from Monaco or Nice.

Sources & resources

• Cultural Heritage Online — Italian Riviera heritage
• Local tourist information: IAT Bordighera, Piazza del Popolo 1, 18012 Bordighera