Giardini di Castelnuovo

The Castle of Sagrado, at the end of the Napoleonic wars, became the best-loved dwelling of Count Raimondo della Torre Hoffer (1749-1817), Lord of Duino, Sagrado, and Sistiana. He dedicated himself body and soul to improving the castle. He populated the vast park with hares and deer, saved damaged plants and planted new ones in the a lovely terraced garden facing south. The Count created the garden more for his compelling desire to offer work to those in need than to create a grandiose, prestigious park, yet in the end it became one of the most important Friulian parks in terms of extension, vegetation and rich fauna. He enriched the park with playful fountains, greenhouses, and monuments among which an enchanting small temple built in 1812 in memory of his beloved wife, Countess Valburga, still visible today from the road which takes you from the castle to Castelvecchio. Unfortunately, after the continuous bombardments from both World War I and II, little to nothing remains of this once splendid estate. The design of the formal garden in front of the villa can still be made out, but the bushes have only recently been planted. The terraces are no way as  luxuriant as they used to be, even though the proprietor of the estate has planted enchanting fruit and olive orchards. Only three grand oak trees, centuries-old, remain as living memories of a glorious past.