Out & About – Public Gardens and Zoological Parks in Veneto and Nearby Regions

Photo By Anna Terracino | Esapolis is the first major museum in Italy that displays the world of small animals, mostly arthropods and especially insects. The visitor is projected in a world of small beings that represents the largest animal biomass of the planet. Esapolis has various services to facilitate your visit: easy access for the disabled, parking, picnic area, covered snack area, bathrooms and a well-stocked shop for your memories.  

ITALY

04.24.2018

Story by Anna Terracino 

U.S. Army Garrison Italy

VICENZA - Italy (April 24, 2018) – Public Gardens and Zoological Parks in Veneto and Nearby Regions

In terms of design, Italian renaissance gardens are among the best residential gardens in the world. They were built thanks to wealthy and artistically inclined patrons who were able to draw upon a wide range of brilliant artists and highly skilled garden craftsmen.

Below are some of the main public gardens and zoological parks in Veneto and nearby regions.

Casa delle Farfalle e Bosco delle Fate
Butterfly Arc and Fairy’s Wood
Montegrotto Terme (Padova), Via Degli Scavi 21 bis, about 27 miles southeast of Vicenza; open daily through May 31, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; June 4-July 31, Wednesdays-Sundays; Aug. 1-31, Tuesday-Sunday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sept. 1-Nov. 12, Wednesday-Sunday, admission: €9; reduced €7 for children 4-12 and senior citizens older than 65; the ticket includes the entrance to the Fairy’s Wood; last entrance is one hour prior to closing time. The Butterfly Arc houses hundreds of specimens of arthropods, including scorpions, scarabs, dung beetles, caterpillars, orchid praying mantises all chosen from among the largest specimens in the world. Specialists are available to provide visitors an opportunity to become better acquainted with the arthropods by interacting with them. The Fairy’s Wood is a 7000 square meter park where the relationship between man and nature is examined by connecting history, traditions, fantasy and science.
https://www.micromegamondo.com/en/

Esapolis
Museum of live insects, silkworms and bees
Padova, Via dei Colli 28; April-June and Aug. 1-Sept. 30, Wednesdays – Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – noon and 2:30 – 6 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; July, open only weekends and Italian Holidays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Oct.-March, weekends and Italian holidays, 9:30 a.m. -6 p.m.; last entrance one hour before closing time. This is the first major museum in Italy that displays the world of small animals, mostly arthropods and especially insects. The visitor is projected in a world of small beings that represents the largest animal biomass of the planet. Esapolis has various services to facilitate your visit: easy access for the disabled, parking and picnic area. Admission: €9; reduced: €7 for children 4-12 & senior citizens older than 65.
https://www.micromegamondo.com/en/

Giardino Castello Carrarese
Carrarese Castle’s gardens
Este (Padova), Via G. Negri 9; open daily 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; the gardens, located within the defensive walls of a medieval castle, have a terraced design with flower arrangement and centuries-old trees; a rose garden and statues. Free access; the nearby archaeological museum can be visited for free every first Sunday of the month, otherwise the entrance fee is €5.
https://www.euganeamente.it/il-castello-carrarese-di-este/

Giardino Monumentale Valsanzibio
Valsanzibio Historic Garden
Galzignano Terme (Padova), Via Diana 2; open daily through Dec. 16, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-sunset, Sunday and Italian holidays from 10 to sunset; baroque garden with hundreds of different trees and plants, a maze, statues, fountains, ponds, water games and fish ponds, admission: €11; reduced €6,50 for children ages 6-14 years.
http://www.valsanzibiogiardino.it/en/

Grotta Cascata del Varone e Giardino Botanico
Varone Waterfall Cave Park and Botanic Garden
Tenno (Trento), Via Cascata, 12; open April, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; May-Aug. 9 a.m.-7p.m.; Sept. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Oct.-December, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed on Dec. 25). A natural gorge, eroded over 20,000 years by Lake Tenno’s waters, which rumble their way down from a height of almost 100 meters; admission: €6; free parking and picnic area.
http://www.cascata-varone.com/index_en.htm

Grotte di Oliero
Oliero Caves
Valstagna (Vicenza), Via Oliero di Sotto 85; open through May 31, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. on weekends and Italian holidays; June-August, Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays and Italian holidays, 9:30 a.m.-6:30 pm.; September, Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sundays, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; October, Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. These caves originated thousands of years ago by the force of water coming down from the Plateau of Asiago, which has carved these deep rocky gorges to then emerge in the valley near the river of Brenta. There are four caves open to the public; during a boat trip of about 30 minutes visitors can discover all the secrets of this underground world. A particularly impressive performance is offered by the casting room, a cascade of alabaster fourteen-feet-high stalactites. Admission: €10; reduced €8, for children aged 5-12 and senior citizens older than 65; free for children under 4.


Orto Botanico
Botanical Garden
Padova, Via Orto Botanico 15; open through May 30, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; June-Sept. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., closed on Monday; Oct. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov.-March, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., closed on Monday; last entrance 45 minutes before closing time; it’s the world’s first botanical garden: it opened in Padova in 1545 and it still preserves its original layout – a circular central plot, symbolizing the world, surrounded by a ring of water; it is famous for its collections of Insectivorous, medicinal and poisonous plants, orchids, aquatic, Alpine, and Mediterranean plants; admission: €10; reduced €8, for children ages 6-18 years; family fee: €22.
http://www.ortobotanico.unipd.it/en/index.html

Parco delle Cascate
Waterfall Park
Molina (Verona), Via Bacilieri 1; open through Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last entrance 5:30 pm.); Oct. 1-Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entrance at 4 p.m.); Nov. 2-March 30, Sundays and Italian holidays, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (last entrance at 2 p.m.) The name Molina derives from the past presence of many mills (in Italian, mulini) working thanks to the hydraulic force of the same springs from which the beautiful waterfalls of the Park are created. A visit to Molina also represents a step into the past: the village has maintained the characteristics of an ancient medieval town; admission: €6; reduced €4 for children 6-11; free entrance for children younger than five and visitors with disabilities.
http://www.parcodellecascate.it/indexeng.php

Parco Faunistico Cappeller
Cappeller Zoo
Cartigliano (Vicenza), Via Kimble; open through Sept. 30, weekdays 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; it closes at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday; Oct. 1-Nov. 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., closed on Fridays; last entrance one hour before closing time; admission: €12.50; reduced €8 for children 2-10; €10, senior citizens older than 60 and military members; museum entrance: €3; free for children younger than 3.
http://parcocappeller.it/

Parco Faunistico Valcorba
Valcorba Zoological Park
in Pozzonovo, Stroppare (Padova); open through Sept. 30, 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., on Sunday is open until 8:30 p.m.; in October, opens only on weekends, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; last entrance is one hour prior to closing; admission: €12.50; reduced €8 for children ages 4-7; credit cards are not accepted.
http://www.parcovalcorba.com/it/

Parco Giardino Sigurtà
Sigurtà Garden
Valeggio sul Mincio (Verona), Via Cavour 1; open through Nov. 11, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (last entrance at 6 p.m.); in March, October and November, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; admission: €12.50; reduced €6.50 children ages 5-14; free for children younger than 4; senior citizens older than 65 €10; for guests with difficulties in getting around there is also a special area reserved on the trains, with electric step for wheelchair access for comfortable enjoyment of the "Enchanted Trail".
http://www.sigurta.it/storia.php

Parco Natura Viva
Safari Park and Zoo
Bussolengo (Verona), Località Figara 40; open through Dec. 9, daily 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday and Italian holidays, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; safari park, Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., on Sunday and Italian holidays, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; admission: €22; €17 for children 3 -12; senior citizens older than 65, €20; free for children younger than 3.
http://www.parconaturaviva.it/en/your-visit/explore-the-park/view-the-map

Parco Querini
Querini Park
Vicenza, Viale Ferdinando Rodolfi; open daily through August 15, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Aug. 16-Sept. 15, it closes at 8 p.m.; Sept. 16-Oct. 15, it closes at 7 p.m.; Oct. 16-31, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov. Dec., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.. This is Vicenza’s green heart; it is famous for its pond in the middle of which there is a small steep islet. The islet is crowned by a temple built in 1820 in the ancient Greek style. The park is popular with joggers and it has a fitness alley; children enjoy seeing rabbits, roosters, hens, and turtles which run free in the park; free access.
https://www.comune.vicenza.it/cittadino/scheda.php/42724,45938


Parco Villa Da Schio
Villa Da Schio Park
Costozza (Longare, Vicenza), Piazza G. Da Schio 4; open daily 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.; closed on Monday; the park is terraced and dotted with classical statues and fountains. Admission: €5; free for children younger than 12; guided visits which include wine tasting, €10.
http://www.costozza-villadaschio.it/new/ing/index.html

Parco Villa Pisani
Villa Pisani Park
Stra (Venezia), Via Doge Pisani 7; open daily through Sept.30, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed on Monday. These gardens were named the most beautiful ones in Italy in 2008; enjoy a maze with a stone tower in the middle; a water canal connecting the villa with the winter gardens, and a unique summer house built on top of a mound and surrounded by a moat; wisteria tunnels and more than 60 thousand tulips; admission: €10; reduced €7.50 (ages 18-25 years); free for children younger than 18; free access every first Sunday of the month.
-http://www.villapisani.beniculturali.it/la-villa-e-il-parco/parco

Parco Zoo Punta Verde
Punta Verde Zoological Park
Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine), Via G. Scerbanenco 19/1; open through July 8, daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; July 9 – Aug. 19, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Aug. 20-Sept. 9, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sept. 10-30, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Oct. 1-31, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; weekends 9 a.m.-5p.m.; Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; admission: €14; reduced €11 for children 3-11; free for children younger than three.
http://www.parcozoopuntaverde.it/index.php?lingua_sito=2

Sea Life Aquarium
Lido di Jesolo (Venezia), Piazza Venezia 28; open through June 30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; July 1-Aug. 30, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sept. 1-30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; admission: €16.50; reduced €13 for children younger than 11 and taller than 39,37 inches; free for children shorter than 39,37 inches; for more info in English and to get discount tickets on line, visit https://www.visitsealife.com/jesolo/en/

WWF Oasi Cave
WWF Caves Oasis
Noale (Vicenza), Via Ongari; open April-Sept., Tuesday-Thursday, 2-8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; March-Oct., Tuesday-Thursday, 2-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; originally a clay quarry, it has been regenerated and nowadays has two lakes circumnavigated by a path where visitors can take long walks and observe several different types of birds in their environment. Dogs are not allowed. Entry is free of charge and there is an ample parking space.
http://www.wwf.it/oasi/veneto/cave_di_noale/visita_l_oasi

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The information on local host nation events is provided through the auspices of the USAG Italy Public Affairs Office (PAO). All details provided are for informational purposes only and are a representation of typical events conducted in the local community. The PAO grants no element of exclusivity to any outside agency or business and any reference to commercial or retail activities implies no endorsement or recommendation by the U. S. Army or its agencies. Participation in any event or activity described herein is strictly voluntary and should be done so only after careful advisement and consideration of the safety and security environment at each specific location.

• Date Taken: 04.24.2018
• Date Posted: 04.24.2018 04:57
• Story ID: 274214
• Location: IT