The Mediterranean Garden Jardín de l'Albarda - beautiful garden with great biodiversity

Close to the coastal town of Dénia lies a well-designed Mediterranean garden with over 700 different plant species adapted to the Mediterranean climate. The Mediterranean garden, Jardín de l'Albarda, has mixed together several Mediterranean traditions, but there are also areas of wild nature. It is a model for how to create lush gardens in hot and dry climates without wasting water. The garden is open to the public every day from 10 am to 2 pm, except on days when concerts are held.

Both the garden and the stately villa look old and respectable, but are actually quite new. The 50-acre garden was originally an agricultural area where citrus fruits were grown. The house was built in 1980 by the engineer Enrique Montoliu. He was very interested in nature and nature conservation and eventually wanted to create a sustainable garden where he could showcase the breadth of Mediterranean flora and at the same time inspire more sustainable gardening. The project to create the garden itself was started in 1990 and is now run by the non-profit foundation FUNDEM, which works with nature conservation.

The design of the garden and the house is carefully planned. It follows a kind of dramaturgy that you gain insight into if you follow the order recommended in the map you get to borrow when you buy tickets. When you enter through the gate, you don't get a full overview right away. It's a deliberate move. Vegetation and walls block the view so that you're made curious. You're then led to a stately house with a large open area where there's a tightly organized formal garden with a water feature and finely trimmed hedges. As you move away from this area, you enter smaller zones divided by paths, stairs and openings. It's almost like walking from room to room in a house. Montolius's wish is for you to move through a kind of narrative where you get to experience curiosity, control and order, intimacy, sensuality and finally nature.

The garden is partly inspired by the Italian/Valencian Renaissance and partly by the Arab/Andalusian tradition. In the Italian part you will find tightly organized alleys and room divisions and a large pool that will tie the garden and the house together. In the Arab part you will find ponds, fountains and rippling sounds. Outside the formal parts of the garden, there is wild nature. Here there are narrow paths and dense vegetation that gives the feeling of a jungle. Make sure to take in all parts of the garden. If you only take pictures of the formal part, you will miss a lot. The garden will be experienced differently at different times of the year. It gives a different impression in spring when many plants are blooming than it does in winter when many of the trees, shrubs and ivies are stripped of their leaves, but each season has its own distinctive character that can be nice to experience.

The house was originally the private residence of the creator of the park, but is now used as an administration building for the foundation that runs the garden..

Fish have been released into several pools and ponds.

The swimming pool should create a connection between house and garden and at the same time be a luxury element.

Next to the main building there is a kind of "winter garden" that has surprising contents.

Inside the building is a large amphitheater/auditorium. Small concerts, lectures and other cultural events are occasionally held here, and you can sit among plants and be in nature while experiencing music, art and culture.

Water mirrors and fountains are an important part of Arab tradition

Some of the trails have such dense vegetation that it is difficult to get through.

More excursions: www.turideer.com

Excursion of the week: The Mediterranean Garden Jardín de l'Albarda - a model project for sustainable horticulture

Opening hours and prices: Open from 10am-2pm every day. 7 Euros for entry.

Finding it: The garden is located a 10-minute drive from the coastal town of Dénia, next to the Oliva golf course. It's worth typing "Jardin de l'Albarada" into Google Maps, as it's difficult to find otherwise.

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