Thanks to their passion for botany and landscape, 50 years ago, the Faro family, had the intuition to turn this corner of Sicily – between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea – into a masterpiece that brings together, in one place, all the botanical species of the Mediterranean area. Located in Giarre, 26 km from Catania and 30 km from Taormina, the 5-hectare horticultural park of Fondazione Radicepura is home to more than 3000 botanical species that are subdivided into 7000 varieties. This incredible biodiversity is possible because of the peculiar Sicilian environment, a unique place for its lush vegetation where the Mediterranean embraces a subtropical climate.
Through the dedication of Venerando Faro, his wife Carmela, and their children Mario and Michele, Radicepura (literally ‘pure root‘) has evolved into a Foundation, that aims to spread a green manifesto taking an ethical and artistic stance towards the noble and cultural development of the area. The Foundation intends to highlight the role of nature as a driving force for the development of consciousnesses through initiatives, events, and cultural activities that present sustainable and universal messages. In line with this, Radicepura’s park is water and energy self-sufficient thanks to cutting-edge systems that foster the charm and sustainability of this unique location, a point of reference for botany, landscape, and art lovers.
In fact, the Foundation also wants to educate people about the culture of respect and protection of the environment through the art of gardening. To this end, it holds courses and internships in collaboration with schools of all levels as well as organizing the Garden Festival, an event that sees gardeners, landscapers, engineers, chefs, and artists presenting their interpretation of the Mediterranean through their art.
Ilona Catani Scarlett
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