On Saturday 21 September, at 9:30 am, Le Serre di Graefer will be open to the public at the Royal Palace of Caserta.
This morning, in the evocative setting of the English Garden, the press and professionals took part in the presentation of the project that gives visitors to the UNESCO site access to and use of the Bourbon Greenhouses and the Modern Greenhouse, after more than eight years of closure.
The aim of the Institute of the Ministry of Culture is to ensure the redevelopment and planned conservation of the plant heritage of a precious area in the English Garden by reactivating its productive role through the special form of public-private partnership provided for by article 151 paragraph 3 of the Public Contracts Code. The operation was carried out thanks to a virtuous model, which saw the collaboration between the Royal Palace of Caserta and local businesses formed in SCARL and united under the name of “Le Serre di Graefer”.
It is the first experiment in Italy relating to a historic garden: an innovative model that can be an inspiration for new policies for the management of historic greenery in Europe.
The project, which takes its name from the historic royal gardener Johann Andreas Graefer, aims to give new cultural and economic impetus to the site and the territory that hosts it, restoring the original function of the Serre as a place of acclimatization, scientific study, reproduction and sale of many botanical specimens, both indigenous and exotic, present in nineteenth-century catalogues, introduced and cultivated in the English Garden.
The public will have access to a total area of 16,103 m2, of which 7,638 m2 of nursery, with exhibitors, four greenhouses and the ancient botanical school. Spaces dedicated to the sale of plants will be set up, cultural events, educational courses and workshops for children and families will be organised.
The spaces of the barrel greenhouse have also been enriched by the paintings of Danilo Ambrosino who, at the end of his exhibition “NEL GIARDINO DEL RE – Un tesoro di luce e foglie” curated by Alessandra Pacelli, donated some works to the Museum. The works on display are inspired by the Plantarum Regii Viridarii Casertani, which catalogues the species present in the King’s gardens at the time of the Bourbons.
This morning’s preview was attended by Tiziana Maffei – Director of the Royal Palace of Caserta; Marco D’Isanto – Consultant for MiC Institutes; Alberta Campitelli – President of the judging committee for the redevelopment project of the Greenhouses of the English Garden of the Royal Palace of Caserta – Vice President of APGI; Antonio Maisto – President of “Le Serre di Graefer” SCARL; Alfonsina Russo – Director of the Department for the Enhancement of Cultural Heritage (DIVA) MiC.
“This is a very important step in the management and protection of the Royal Palace of Caserta – said Tiziana Maffei – A precious area of the English Garden has been redeveloped and the planned conservation of its plant heritage will be ensured. But the Museum is not a crystallized place, a showcase. It is a living and vital space that has a creative force. The productive role of the greenhouses has therefore been reactivated through the special form of public-private partnership. We have acted in compliance with the identity of the Bourbon site: everything in the kingdom was part of a system that, in addition to ensuring self-sufficiency, developed the economy. This area of the Royal Park was used for acclimatization activities, scientific study and reproduction of indigenous and exotic botanical specimens, which were then also put on sale. All this becomes reality again. We are returning a timeless place of the Green Museum to the public by bringing the Bourbon greenhouses back to their original function and identity, with a view to circular economy and sustainability”.
“From Saturday 21 June it will be possible to take part in a fascinating journey through history, nature and botany and purchase botanical species with unique colours and scents from the English Garden of the Royal Palace of Caserta – stated Antonio Maisto – This project represents an important step in the process of valorising and promoting the Caserta area. We are certain that the Greenhouses will once again become a point of reference for botany enthusiasts and for all those who wish to immerse themselves in a unique and evocative atmosphere”.
“The economic valorization of cultural heritage is achieved with a vision, a project carried out with passion, through collaboration and sharing with the private sector – stated Alfonsina Russo – Valorization of the territory and not only of the cultural site by creating jobs and ensuring that young people remain in place. Valorization passes through research, historical reconstruction, traditions, the past that re-emerges in the social forces and the territory. The reform implemented this year by the MiC aims at all of this, inspired by our Constitution and the Faro Convention”.
Entrance to Le Serre di Graefer for the visit only, during the opening hours of the Museum, is included in the ticket/subscription to the Royal Palace of Caserta.
Saturday 21 September, the first evening event is scheduled at Le Serre di Graefer entitled “Soundtracks in the Royal Palace” during which the English Garden will be transformed into a large open-air musical stage. Participation in the initiative is not included in the ticket/subscription to the Museum. For info https://www.leserredigraefer.it/eventi.
