Giardini La Mortella

About the garden

The gardens of La Mortella were developed by Susana Walton, wife of the late British composer Sir William Walton, on the volcanic island Ischia in the Bay of Naples. The couple arrived in 1949 for a short stay but moved permanently there in 1956. Lady Walton, a keen gardener, dedicated her life to the development of the gardens, and after William Walton’s death in 1983, she established twin trusts in England and Italy and opened the gardens to the public. The estate is now managed by the William Walton Trust.

Today, La Mortella is divided into two parts: the sheltered, shady and moist lower garden, known as The Valley, which houses collections of tender tropical plants; and the sunny, open and windy upper garden, called The Hill, which celebrates Mediterranean gardening and features an Oriental Garden and an open-air theatre. Throughout the gardens, the landscape is enriched with fountains, pools, exotic climbers and water plants. Visitors will also find pavilions, glasshouses, a tea house and the William Walton Museum, which hosts concerts on weekends.