Collegio Papio - Giardino borromaico

Dionea SA, Giraudi Radczuweit architetti, eng. S. Pawlowsky, 2021-2024

The garden of the Papio is the most important example of a Borromean garden preserved in Ticino. 

Created between 1620 and 1630, over the centuries it has kept its original layout and has recently been the subject of an important recovery and restoration project with the following objectives:

• to maintain and enhance the original and permanent elements (boundary walls, internal paths, the vineyard, biblical and Marian flora, ...);
• to recover the original intention of a spiritual and acclimatisation garden;
• to eliminate as far as possible the elements not consistent with the garden, accumulated in particular during the Benedictine and recent periods.

The garden, of approx. 6000 m2, covers 1/3 of the surface of the Collegio and is open to the public thanks to the restoration supported by the local authorities of Ascona, the Swiss Confederation, the Ticino Cantonal Office for Cultural Heritage and numerous foundations and private individuals.