Villa Anelli, Oggebbio

A day in camelias paradise

A gate opens in the centre of the small hamlet of Gonte and suddenly we find ourselves in a park, an incredible collection of camellias recognised since 2010 by the International Camellia Society as a “Garden of Exellence”. The camellia collection is like an open-air museum: there are over 400 species and cultivars.

The Italian Camellia Society Onlus, since its foundation in 1965, has used this collection as a catalogue field due to the variety and completeness of the specimens present.

The best time to admire the blossoming of the different varieties of Camellia Japonica is undoubtedly early spring, but also noteworthy are the many Camellia Sasanqua or winter camellias, which make this extraordinary garden an unmissable experience even in the autumn months. 

Camelia Paradise

It was 1872 and Carlo Berzio, a young Milanese notary who had fallen in love with the natural beauty of Lake Maggiore, decided to devote a large part of his life to building a villa with a garden in Oggebbio.

Designed by himself, the garden is in the English romantic style and masterfully exploits the different levels and slopes of the land. The winding paths wind their way through the light and shadow created by the majestic century-old trees, and lead the guest along a path full of surprises and ever-changing panoramic views.

In the oldest part of the garden, 19th- century camellia cultivars were planted, which still astonish with their size and are the subject of historical research into contemporary varieties.

From this original nucleus came the extraordinary collection that can be admired today. In the 19505, engineer Antonio Sevesi, a friend of the owner’s, became enchanted by some flowering specimens. Inspired by these centuries-old plants, and supported by a group of scholars and expert growers, he gradually began to import new camellia varieties from all parts of the world, in particular from England, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and China.

 The plants were planted in Villa Anelli and gradually camellia cultivation came to embellish the old English garden, replacing the orchard and the vegetable section. It is to his credit that today, camellia cultivation, which was becoming increasingly marginal, has been reintroduced in Italy.

The recent establishment of the company La Camelia d’Oro is the ideal instrument to share this important and valuable botanical heritage.

La Camelia d’Oro is also an educational farm: its aim is ot make the good ‘Nature’ and the importance of its protection and preservation through the work of man more understandable and accessible. The farm cultivates and offers collectible camellias, propagated from the garden of Villa Anelli, vegetables, DOC wines produced in Veneto with the “Camellia” label, and artistic artefacts (painted eggshells). It also offers an accommodation service in the 19th-century rustic house.

Enjoy our private driver service at your disposal.

Tasting the good regional food paired with the local wines into a typical local restaurant.

Feeling comfortable with the presence of our local tour guide.

Direct booking

For these exclusive experiences, we have a direct contact through the fast and confidential WhatsApp channel. Remember, if you are reading this paragraph, it’s because you have accessed a reserved area of the website and are considered a top client of My Lake Maggiore