- Active & Green
Lorenzo Rota Botanical Gardens
A small naturist laboratory where the passion and the art of the workers bring together exotic plants with the indigenous ones
The Botanical Gardens are a municipal institution inaugurated in 1972 through the meritorious efforts of its two main promoters: the head engineer of the Garden Service Luciano Malanchini and Guido Isnenghi, an agro technician that is well-acquainted with the local flora and has an acute aesthetic sensibility.
Both of these men contributed to the promotion of the International Alpine Botanical Gardens Association (AIGBA) that for several years was based at Bergamo's Botanical Gardens.
More than 900 different plant species inhabit this small area of 1,750 square metres, including endemic Orobie species, as well as several types of carnivorous plants (including the Drosera carnivora), aquatic plants and herbs in a carefully assorted blend.
The garden is continuing its successful tempt to recover and reintroduce a virtually extinct fern, the Osmunda regalis, that once lived in Valcalepio and along the banks of the river Adda. In addition to offering a pleasant meeting place, the gardens also offer educational programmes for children and lectures for nature lovers.