by InTrieste
A multi-year restoration of the historic park at Miramare Castle has been completed, fulfilling Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg’s 19th-century vision of a romantic garden. The latest phase, finalized this year, includes the area stretching from the small villa known as the Castelletto to the complex of historic greenhouses and the ruins of the Chapel of San Canciano.
The project, which began to take visible form in 2020, sought to restore the landscape’s original design, combining seasonal floral displays with archaeological and spiritual elements. Archival photographs played a key role in guiding the reconstruction, particularly those depicting the chapel in its semi-ruined state during Maximilian’s era. At that time, deliberate alterations were made to present the church as a “romantic ruin,” in keeping with 19th-century garden aesthetics.
A polychrome crucifix housed in the chapel, installed by Maximilian’s brother in his memory, also underwent a careful conservation process. Tradition holds that the crucifix was carved from the wood of the Novara, the frigate on which Maximilian made several voyages. His remains were returned to Trieste aboard the same vessel following his execution in Mexico in 1867.
The redesign of the Castelletto’s parterre included a new botanical layout intended to reflect the historical appearance of the grounds. Sustainability was a central consideration in plant selection, according to Andreina Contessa, director of the park and castle. Tulips, chosen for their ability to naturalize and multiply, along with water reeds planted near the fountain and trilobed basin, are expected to return in future seasons without the need for replanting.
The revitalized area also features a large sculpture by contemporary artist Davide Rivalta — a bronze gorilla positioned within the garden. “It serves as a reminder,” Contessa said, “that the power of nature surpasses us and possesses its own independent existence.”
The restoration is part of a broader effort to preserve and reinterpret the historic park for modern visitors, while maintaining fidelity to its 19th-century origins.
