Area protetta regionale Giardini Botanici Hanbury

Loc. La Mortola

18039 Ventimiglia (IM)

Municipality: Ventimiglia

Region: Liguria

Between the 17th and 18th century the Orengo Palace developed around an ancient tower. In the second half of the 1800s, when Thomas Hanbury bought the property, it needed to be deeply renovated: the roofings were seriously damaged and the farmers used to keep their tools within the rooms of the building. The architects Thomas Hanbury hired for the works were English, and he especially relied on Arthur Foster. In about ten years the facility was enlarged towards the sea with a wide loggia, and eastwards and westwards by adding two side wings, where the kitchen, the billiard room and the studio were placed. The tower was raised by one floor in order to make it even more panoramic. Foster planned the southern loggia featuring marble details that likely came from the Carrara quarries, solomonic columns and serlian windows.