A place with a unique energy, a aristocratic garden unlike any other in Romania, was created by an Italian businessman just a few kilometers from the city of Deva, in the village of Banpotoc: the gardens of I Giardini di Zoe.
Hundreds of ornamental trees and shrubs, each carefully placed in its own place, fountains, on which the birds land and then delight visitors with their songs, paths that take you to heaven, colours that blend in an exquisite way, all this makes you think you have arrived in a fairy tale.
Here, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll and rest in the shade to let your eyes fully delight your soul. The aristocratic garden inspires elegance and is in perfect taste. In summer, I Giardini di Zoe transforms into an oasis of peace and coolness, and in autumn you'll be intoxicated by its pastels.
Primavara la I Giardini di ZoeVara la I Giardini di Zoe
A puzzle created following a step by step pattern, without a final image
This garden was created by the Italian Giovanni Salvatelli, like a puzzle game, a step by step pattern, without any formal education or support from landscape architects. His only and most reliable helper was his imagination and his boundless love for his first granddaughter, Zoe. The Italian arrived 18 years ago from the Ancona area of the Marche region, somewhere in central Italy, a hilly area with something of the famous Tuscan charm.
"This project started out as a personal one. It was a place where Giovanni would relax after spending hours at the shoe factory he had opened in Hunedoara. And it soon turned into a real industry. The work here was carried out without an architect or landscape designer. It's just Giovanni Salvatelli's vision.
This man is a true self-taught. He immediately notices if something in the garden is out of harmony. We respected the land and planted following a step by step pattern, like in a puzzle game, but one that doesn't have a final photo," Ramona Morar, administrator of "I Giardini di Zoe", told GO Hunedoara.
Watchmen in purple uniforms at I Giardini di Zoe
As soon as you enter the garden, you are greeted by the local "watchmen". A neat row of ornamental cork trees charming everyone who steps into the beautiful alleyway, called the 'spring show'.
Once mesmerised by these soldiers in purple uniforms, you arrive at the gate to heaven. Without blinking, you enter a fairyland and are enchanted by the tranquillity and beauty of the place. Here, no blade of grass goes unruly where it wills, but has its place, firmly established. Everything is 'on the line' and nothing is left to chance. The garden's cool air and arrangements entice you to explore every inch of it.
I giardini delle tre fontane", Renaissance-inspired
You walk emotionallyalong the pathways, afraid that your steps will spoil this perfect harmony. You arrive in the Renaissance-inspired garden, laid out on a straight plane. Here, the designer, Giovanni Salvatelli, has "staged" "I giardini delle tre fontane". The three fountains attract visitors like a magnet, even those arriving by air, i.e. the birds, who stop here to cool off and delight those in the garden with their trills.
"Only a small part of the garden, the right-hand side, where the 'boxwood games' are, is Renaissance-inspired. As for the uniqueness and charm of this garden, these are given by the species that are found here and grow all over the country," stated Ramona Morar.
Most of the trees and shrubs come from nurseries in Romania, the main supplier being the nursery of the Simeria Dendrological Park. The colourful shrubs come from nurseries in Hungary and the roses are exclusively from Italy.
The decorative objects, made of volcanic rock, carved in Italy
In perfect harmony with nature, a series of decorative objects add a touch of elegance and mystery. Massive pieces, vases, benches, even temples, are made of volcanic rock, called peperino, and have been brought piece by piece from Italy. Granite, marble and travertine are also harmoniously interwoven and complete the picture of the Garden of Eden.
Every part of this place has its own story. In the temple, for example, there is a motto, representing the creator of this fairytale place, which reads: "Ho quell che ho donnato" - I have what I have given. And what a beautiful gift this man managed to give to the people of Hunedoara and Romania, and especially to his grandchildren.
Giovanni's Alley, an explosion of colour
Another wonderful place, an explosion of colour in every season, where the soft, thick, perfectly mown lawn is bordered by rivers of flowers, flowering bushes and trees with different textures, this is "Giovanni's Alley". This stretches along one side of the garden.
"We chose to make the arrangement here as colourful as possible in terms of foliage, flowers and flowering time. We have berberis with yellow foliage, hydrangea that will make a very large pink flower in July, abelia that will bloom in August-September, hypericum with yellow flowers and red fruit," says Ramona Morar.
To care for such a garden requires hard work, dedication and passion. And those who make sure the place looks perfect never stop working.
"The work here never ends, you're bent over from morning to night and you're always weeding, mowing, pruning, collecting, watering," adds the garden manager.
Somewhere behind the garden, the Italian also built a house, Villa Vinci, where he occassionally lives. It's a chic, single-storey cottage built in perfect harmony with the whole landscape.
Work has begun on the Achilles Garden
And the Italian businessman's project doesn't stop there. According to the garden's manager, the main part, which is being visited, is to be completed. Thus, to the right of the temple and behind the house, the garden of Achilles will be shaped, because Giovanni has another grandson, almost three years old, and he decided to create a garden for him too. At the end of the project, when the whole project is completed, the garden will probably be called I Giadini di Zoe e Achile.
A mini-amphitheatre and labyrinth made of taxus baccata, which lives for 2000 years
Several species of ornamental trees and shrubs have already been planted on the hillside near the garden entrance, and visitor pathways are to be laid out on this stretch.
„"At the foot of the hill we want to make a mini-amphitheatre for shows, and on the left side, at the entrance where we had the nursery, we want to make a maze. We hope to succeed in making this labyrinth out of taxus baccata, a species that lives for 2000 years.
Taxus baccata and boxwood are long-lived species that create the contours of Renaissance and Baroque-inspired gardens. The garden currently covers 3.5 hectares and will be developed up to a total of 7 hectares," said Ramona Morar.”, a precizat Ramona Morar.
Since May, an area has been open in the garden where visitors can enjoy coffee, refreshments or ice cream.
imagini drona i giardini di zoeFoto Gabriel Hotea
Strict rules to avoid accidents
Visitors should be aware that rollerblades, skateboards, bicycles, etc. are not allowed in the garden. Furthermore, the garden's representatives point out that this is not a place to play. Parents are warned not to let their children out of their sight as serious accidents could occur.
"The garden's vases are not fixed, but displayed as in a museum. We had a family visit and the couple's little girl started pulling on one of the pots. We didn't know how to get to the child as quickly as possible to get her away from the object which, if it had fallen, would have caused a tragedy. Thus, to avoid any kind of incident, we draw the attention of visitors to the fact that this space is strictly for visiting and admiring", says Ramona Morar.
"I've seen heaven, now I can die!"
Visitors who step into this place are absolutely mesmerised by what unfolds before their eyes. One day, an elderly tourist visiting the garden sat down on a bench in the shade and, impressed by the beauty of the place, told the garden manager:
"I've seen heaven, now I can die!". "I have visited the world far and wide and seen far more beautiful gardens, but this tells the story of the man. It has a special energy, the energy of the person who created it," said another visitor who was surprised by what the Italian Salvatelli had created at Banpotoc.
Once you step into this garden, you will definitely want to come back. And each time it will envelop you with its special charm and impress you with the spectacle of colours that is specific to each month.
"I giardini di Zoe" is also the perfect place for elegant wedding photos. At every turn, photographers can spot hundreds of perfect angles for the bride and groom in the frame.
Ticket at I Giardini di Zoe
A ticket costs 15 lei and the garden can be visited daily from 9am to 6pm. The best access is from Simeria.
In June, July, August and September, the gardens are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 8pm.
Felicitări și mii de mulțumiri Domnule Giovanni Salvalelli, dumneavoastră și întregii echipe care trudește clipă de clipă pentru acest loc de basm! Promit să revin cel puțin o dată pe anotimp! Îmi doream de foarte mult timp să vizitez Grădinile Andaluze dar acum avem și noi „I Giardini di Zoe”, cu nimic mai prejos decat grădinile din Occident! Astept cu emoție și bucurie continuarea proiectului cu labirintul pentru nepoțelul dumneavoastră, Achille! Multă sănătate dumneavoastră, nepoților și tuturor celor dragi! Recunoștință, mulțumiri și felicitări din tot sufletul!
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