La Mortella Gardens
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 18 January 2024
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La Mortella Gardens (The Myrtle), is the former home of English composer Sir William Walton and his Argentinian wife, Lady Susana Walton. Shortly after World War Two, the couple moved to Ischia and eventually made their home on what is now the site of The Sir William Walton Foundation and La Mortella Gardens.
Sir William and Lady Susana attracted a star-studded list of celebrities to their home such as Sir Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh and Maria Callas to name but a few, and their fascinating former home and gardens can now be enjoyed by all. |
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In 1956, after having spent the previous 6 years divided between 6 month stints in London and Ischia, the couple decided to buy their new property at La Mortella. Having understood the potential of the site, they decided to call in landscape expert, Russell Page, who set about transforming the stone quarry on a volcanic hill, into a tropical garden paradise with an extraordinary and fascinating array of rare and exotic plant life.
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La Mortella Gardens, known as "Giardini La Mortella" in Italian, is a botanical garden located on the island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples, Italy. These lush and exotic gardens offer a magnificent display of rare plants, vibrant flowers, and enchanting water features, creating a tropical oasis on the island.
La Mortella Gardens cover an area of approximately 16,000 square meters and are nestled in the hills of Forio, Ischia. The garden was the creation of English composer Sir William Walton and his wife, Lady Susana Walton. They began working on the gardens in 1956, and it was opened to the public in 1992.
The gardens are a captivating blend of Mediterranean and tropical vegetation, with over 300 rare and exotic plant species from around the world. As visitors wander through the garden's pathways, they will encounter beautiful displays of palms, cycads, cacti, camellias, and many other colorful and fragrant flowers.
One of the highlights of La Mortella is the "Valley of the Ferns," a shaded area with a waterfall and a wide variety of ferns and mosses, creating a cool and tranquil atmosphere.
The gardens also feature a large outdoor amphitheater where concerts and cultural events are occasionally held, paying homage to Sir William Walton's musical legacy.
La Mortella Gardens cover an area of approximately 16,000 square meters and are nestled in the hills of Forio, Ischia. The garden was the creation of English composer Sir William Walton and his wife, Lady Susana Walton. They began working on the gardens in 1956, and it was opened to the public in 1992.
The gardens are a captivating blend of Mediterranean and tropical vegetation, with over 300 rare and exotic plant species from around the world. As visitors wander through the garden's pathways, they will encounter beautiful displays of palms, cycads, cacti, camellias, and many other colorful and fragrant flowers.
One of the highlights of La Mortella is the "Valley of the Ferns," a shaded area with a waterfall and a wide variety of ferns and mosses, creating a cool and tranquil atmosphere.
The gardens also feature a large outdoor amphitheater where concerts and cultural events are occasionally held, paying homage to Sir William Walton's musical legacy.
History
La Mortella Gardens were created by Sir William Walton and his wife, Lady Susana Walton, who were both passionate garden enthusiasts. They purchased the property in the 1950s and transformed it from a barren volcanic landscape into a breathtaking botanical garden.
Sir William Walton was a renowned British composer, known for his symphonies and film scores, including music for Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry V" and the 1969 film "Battle of Britain."
Sir William Walton was a renowned British composer, known for his symphonies and film scores, including music for Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry V" and the 1969 film "Battle of Britain."
Visitor information
- Opening Hours: The garden is usually open to the public from April to October. Opening hours may vary, so it's advisable to check the official website or local guides for current times.
- Entrance Fee: There is an entrance fee to access the garden. The revenue from entrance tickets helps maintain and preserve this beautiful garden.
- Accessibility: While the gardens have some steep and uneven pathways, there are areas that are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
- Photography: La Mortella Gardens offer numerous photo opportunities, from the lush vegetation to the stunning views of the Bay of Naples.
- Nearby Attractions: Ischia is a beautiful island with other attractions worth exploring, including its thermal spas, medieval castles, and scenic beaches.
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Opening times:
From Thursday 2nd April 2020 until Sunday 1st November 2020 Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday: 09:00 - 19:00 (last entry 18:00) Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Closed |
Prices:
Adults: €15 Children aged 12-18: €10, Children aged 6 - 11: €7 Children 5 and under: Free Seniors over 70: €10 |
Giardini La Mortella
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Island: Ischia
Province: Metropolitan City of Naples Region: Campania Close by: Castello Aragonese, Mount Epomeo Recommended accommodation: Grand Hotel Il Moresco |
A labour of love
The gardens at La Mortella as we see them today were a labour of love for the charismatic Susana Walton who opened their doors to the public in 1991. By now, the gardens represent more than 50 years of passion, dedication and care given to her life’s work and creation.
As a perfect complement to his wife’s efforts in the Gardens, Sir William Walton continued his work as one of the most important classical composers of his time, and it is to this that the foundation owes its musical legacy.
With its own recital hall, the foundation is able to stage two seasons of chamber music concerts, one in the spring and another in the autumn where budding musicians from Italy and across the world perform around 70 concerts every year.
As a perfect complement to his wife’s efforts in the Gardens, Sir William Walton continued his work as one of the most important classical composers of his time, and it is to this that the foundation owes its musical legacy.
With its own recital hall, the foundation is able to stage two seasons of chamber music concerts, one in the spring and another in the autumn where budding musicians from Italy and across the world perform around 70 concerts every year.
The Greek Theatre
With La Mortella split into various levels, it is on the highest part of the garden that the open-air Greek theatre resides. Throughout the summer, audiences are able to enjoy the Youth Orchestra concerts while surrounded by China roses and aromatic herbs, and the visual backdrop of the bay of Forio behind the performers.
The unusual yet evocative mixture of tropical gardens and classical music helped La Mortella to win its award as “Il Più bel parco d’Italia” (most beautiful park in Italy) in 2004, after beating 100 nominated rivals in the Briggs and Stratton annual award.
The unusual yet evocative mixture of tropical gardens and classical music helped La Mortella to win its award as “Il Più bel parco d’Italia” (most beautiful park in Italy) in 2004, after beating 100 nominated rivals in the Briggs and Stratton annual award.
Fitting memorials
Sadly, both Sir William Walton (1902-1983) and Lady Susana Walton (1926-2010) have now both passed away but their presence can still be felt in many ways when wandering around the gardens.
There are memorials to both of them in the garden – an inscribed stone memorial that holds the ashes of the composer, and a beautiful and peaceful area that commemorates the life of Susana with pretty water features and a panoramic view of Forio in the distance.
It is hard not to be moved by these memorials and also by the video which plays on a loop in the room next to the recital hall. The video shows Susana in full swagger, excitedly describing various features and plants in the gardens to an enrapt group of visitors.
The enthusiasm with which Lady Walton describes the garden is infectious and indicative of the passion, care and attention that she so obviously devoted to the gardens.
There are memorials to both of them in the garden – an inscribed stone memorial that holds the ashes of the composer, and a beautiful and peaceful area that commemorates the life of Susana with pretty water features and a panoramic view of Forio in the distance.
It is hard not to be moved by these memorials and also by the video which plays on a loop in the room next to the recital hall. The video shows Susana in full swagger, excitedly describing various features and plants in the gardens to an enrapt group of visitors.
The enthusiasm with which Lady Walton describes the garden is infectious and indicative of the passion, care and attention that she so obviously devoted to the gardens.
An unmissable sight of Ischia
La Mortella Gardens is one of the jewels of Ischia and is not to be missed by any visitor to the island. The lush tropical paradise is awash with fascinating plants, flowers, wildlife and colorful birds as well as the added interest of visiting the former home of this convivial and charismatic couple who lived their glamorous lives devoted to their individual arts of music and gardening.
More information about the Sir William Walton Foundation and La Mortella Gardens are available along with more images on their excellent website which is translated into English. Please click on the blue button at the bottom of this page. You will also find a link to our events calendar where you will find this year's schedule for the Festival of Youth Orchestra held at the gardens.
More information about the Sir William Walton Foundation and La Mortella Gardens are available along with more images on their excellent website which is translated into English. Please click on the blue button at the bottom of this page. You will also find a link to our events calendar where you will find this year's schedule for the Festival of Youth Orchestra held at the gardens.
