Set in the town of Khamma, this garden, one of the few examples still left on Pantelleria, is an ancient grove surrounded by a circular lava-block dry-stone wall protecting the trees and citrus groves from the strong island wind while also ensuring their irrigation.
The garden was donated by the Sicilian Donnafugata wine estate to FAI, the Italian National Trust. It is an ancient grove, interesting for its size and structural characteristics: it is circular, surrounded by a four-metre-high dry-stone wall made with lava-blocks, protecting a centuries-old sweet orange plant, the “Portugallo”. The structure of the surviving “giardini panteschi” – the gardens of Pantelleria – whose origins date back to 3000 BCE, recalls the primitive conception of the Mediterranean and near-East garden, exploiting the island’s climatic and hydrological conditions: the gardens are protected from the wind by high walls and benefit from a water collection system based on self-irrigation technologies that exploit the porosity of the stones and the difference in day and night temperatures. Restored and in a good state of conservation, it is immersed in the most beautiful natural scenery made up of terraced vineyards with centuries-old zibibbo grapes.
Highlights
The “giardino circolare”
The structure of this “circular garden” has just one narrow entrance and small openings at the base for rain water to pass through. The top of the wall leans inwards so as to collect as much water as possible. The wall stops the wind from damaging the fruit and preserves the night time humidity, creating a fresh microclimate inside.
The “portogallo”
The “portogallo” (“partuàllo” in Sicilian) is a sweet orange (Citrus aurantium dulcis or Citrus sinensis), originally from China and introduced in Spain and Portugal in the 14th century, and from there to Sicily. It is amazing to see how it grows on several trunks across the whole garden.
The zibibbo vines
Close to the Pantesco garden is the Cantina di Khamma of the Donnafugata wine estate, situated in a natural amphitheatre with centuries-old vines cultivated on small terraces, bordered by dry lava stone walls. The place to go for Pantelleria moscato and passito wine tastings.
