Oasi, giardini e riserve

The Garden of the Giusti Palace, situated very close to the Arena's amphitheatre, is one of the jewels of Verona's Renaissance. Its history begins during the 15th century, when it was the property of the Giustis, a family of wool merchants of Tuscan origin. Through centuries and wars, every effort has been made to preserve the garden and bring it back to its former glory, even during the World War II, when many of its precious trees were suffered serious damage.

Sbarai Oasis stretches over 30 acres on the shores of Lake Santa Croce, in the Belluno region. It is an extensive wet area featuring a number of different environments related to variations in the lake's water level. It is an ideal habitat for the wintering of many species of birds like Grebes, Lapwings, Penduline tits, Grey Herons, and white Storks. The oasis is reached via an easy flat trail, along which you can admire splendid specimens of monumentally large white willows. The two rural villages next-door, Bastia and Sitran, are worth a look.

The gardens of Villa Giustiniani stretch over more than five acres in the Paduan countryside. The seventeenth-century Venetian villa is located in Vanzo, a suburb of San Pietro Viminario, surrounded by century-old plants and rare trees.

The historical garden houses a large rose garden that can be toured with the owners, expert and enthusiastic "gardeners" whose family has lived in the villa for generations, and who will spell out the botanical names of the different rose varieties in addition to the history of the people who introduced them.