The magnificent San Domenico monastery was turned into a hotel and it needed to renovate its amazing gardens. San Domenico Hotel is thus the perfect location to host the “aged” atmosphere of a classical Sicilian Baroque Garden where the mix of colours, scents and fruits is simply magic.
The new Baroque garden design has been developed by following the aesthetic standards of the Sicilian Baroque style, that has a very noble a long history started back in the 16th Century.
All the characteristics of this style are very well described and emphasized in the famous novel “Il Gattopardo” by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, which was an important source of inspiration.
In order to recreate the atmosphere we have selected the best trees and plants such as blooms of Bouganvillea and citruses, geranium mixed with Lantanas and Cistus. In total we have used 1,500 palm trees and fat plants, 2,500 shrubs and herbaceous plants and 150 creepers in addition to the existing and centuries-old Phoenix and Strelitzia plants.
We have also scattered 60 big vases and antique jars of different shapes all around the garden as if they had been there for ages. The absolutely random blooms effects create a simple but at the same time great and flavourful atmosphere.
Marco Sandrini, Landscape designer at Sandrini Green Architecture