The grounds of Ornelleta are far more than a simple extension of the house; they are a sensory and symbolic journey designed to reconnect guests with the forces of nature. The Emotional Garden of Peace and Cooperation, designed by architect Caterina Angela Contu, is an ecosystem of meaning where the Maremma landscape meets ancient geometries. Here, among monoliths, lush borders, and convivial areas, the experience transcends mere aesthetics.
The journey begins in the Bosco del Pentagono dei frutti antichi (Pentagon Grove of Ancient Fruits), the energetic heart of the garden. Here, the pentagon a symbol of strength and harmony serves as the compositional matrix around which the trees and five monoliths are arranged. The Orto Scomposto introduces the theme of cooperation. Linear planters house vegetables whose growth is entrusted to the guests, making the simple act of nurturing an integral part of the experience. It is a space that restores value to time, presence, and shared action.
From the garden, sinuous lines lead to the area dedicated to purification and leisure. The swimming pool and solarium are set upon wooden decking that acts as a natural stage overlooking the valley, offering a view that glides across the rolling hills all the way to the sea. Here, water, wood, and light create a delicate balance, where relaxation is not an escape, but a return.
The Piazza della Pace, with its sculptures of herons that appear to be in conversation, defines a space for pause and contemplation. An intimate corner where social connection intertwines with symbolism, concluding the garden path with an invitation to silence and presence.
At Ornelleta, beauty is not the goal, but the result. It emerges from the meeting of landscape, geometry, and individual freedom. In this garden, the true luxury is the freedom to choose how to inhabit space and time, allowing peace to emerge as a lived experience, rather than just a promise.
