January: the blossom

Welcome to our enchanting garden in Taormina, the Victoria Gardens, where the beauty of the aloe arborescens plants and the agave attenuata blossom in this month of January will leave you breathless. These floral wonders are truly special especially for our visitors from central and northern Europe, because they offer colours and atmospheres very contrasting with the landscapes of northern latitudes.

Aloe arborescens plants are characterized by tall stems and intense green succulent leaves, which stand out among other aloe species for their majesty. During flowering, these plants offer a unique spectacle, with tubular flowers of a vibrant red colour that open towards the sky. It is a truly exciting experience to admire the harmony between the green of the leaves and the intense red of the flowers. The name could derive from the Arabic Alba which means bitter thing or from the Greek Alo which means sea. It is a medicinal plant with multiple therapeutic applications.

But that's not all: the agaves attenuata are equally fascinating as illustrated in the second photo. These succulent plants, with their short, spiky leaves, look like living sculptures. During flowering, a long stem emerges from the center of the leaves, carrying with it a myriad of bell-shaped flowers of a beautiful bright yellow color. It's a real feast for the eyes! The act of flowering is also the last moment of life of the agave which will die with the inflorescence: Primo Levi dedicates a poem to the agave:

“I am neither useful nor beautiful, I have no happy colours or perfumes; my roots gnaw at the concrete, and my leaves, edged with thorns, guard me, sharp as swords. I'm mute. I only speak my plant language, difficult for you man to understand. It is an obsolete, exotic language, since I come from far away, from a cruel country full of wind, poisons and volcanoes. I waited many years before expressing this very tall and desperate flower of mine, ugly, woody, rigid but reaching towards the sky. It's our way of shouting that I will die tomorrow. Do you understand me now?” from Ad ora incerta, Garzanti, 1984.

We invite you to come and discover the magic of these gardens. Here, you can immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, admire the one-of-a-kind floral wonders and be fascinated by the variety of colours and shapes that our region can offer.

Upon reservation, the Gardens open their doors for guided tours by the owner, Donna Vittoria Alliata of the princes of Villafranca, it is possible to extend the visit with a chic picnic, or for a lunch in the villa with the owner. All information on the site.