One of the most enchanting places in Forio, a true oasis of peace far from the liveliness that overwhelms the entire island, especially in summer, is the La Mortella Gardens.
It was the wife of the British composer William Walton, Susana, who wanted them, to pay homage to the island that her husband had loved so much: his body rests inside, at Sir Walton’s Rock, the most panoramic point of the gardens. She also had an amphitheatre built, which still hosts symphony concerts today, maintaining the strong link with music that had characterised Walton’s life.
The luxuriant La Mortella Gardens are home to some 3,000 plant species, many of which are exotic: entering the heart of the park, one encounters Australian tree ferns, yuccas, South African aloe plants, imposing magnolias, Mexican agaves, palms and camellias. The air is filled with the unmistakable gurgling of water from the many fountains, streams and ponds, where water lilies, lotuses and papyruses have been planted.
The La Mortella Gardens reveal other spectacular scenery, from the Nymphaeum housing the ashes of Susana Walton, to the Temple of the Sun and the Crocodile Waterfall, enveloped in the summer fragrance of Agapantus.
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