Giardini Ravino, Ischia: Cacti, Succulents & a Collector’s Garden

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A different garden on Ischia

Giardini Ravino is a garden of striking plant forms: rounded cacti, tall branching stems, rosettes and dense groups of succulents. Set in Forio, it adds a very different kind of visit to Ischia’s beaches and thermal parks.

Come for the collection and the pleasure of looking closely. The garden works for visitors with a serious interest in plants, but its scale and unusual shapes also make it engaging without specialist knowledge. Allow around an hour to an hour and a half, longer if you want a café stop or to study the collection.

Rounded cacti planted beside a winding garden path at Ravino
Paths bring the contrasting shapes of the cactus collection into close view.

Giuseppe D’Ambra’s collection

The garden grew from the long-standing passion of sea captain Giuseppe D’Ambra. Seeds and cuttings gathered during his travels became a collection that eventually outgrew its earlier home. Work on a former vineyard created the garden that opened to visitors in 2006.

Giuseppe D’Ambra beside a large rounded cactus at Giardini Ravino
Giuseppe D’Ambra with one of the plants in his collection.

The garden’s own account explains that history. It is a useful perspective when visiting: Ravino developed through a collector’s interests, patient cultivation and adaptation to the island’s conditions.

What to look for

Start with the outline of each group, then look at the details. Compare ribs, spines and branching patterns; notice how smaller rounded plants sit against the much taller specimens. A change of viewpoint can make the same planting look entirely different.

Tall columnar cactus rising above the paths and buildings at Ravino
The taller specimens give a sense of the time involved in building the collection.

Keep to the paths and enjoy the plants without touching them. Seasonal flowers and fruit add colour to the sculptural forms of the collection.

Visiting Ravino

The garden is on Via Provinciale Panza in Forio. During the main season it normally opens from 10am to 7pm, closing on Tuesdays; winter visits are by reservation. Check the official website for current opening days and contact details before setting out, particularly at the beginning or end of the season.

Comfortable shoes, water and sun protection are useful. If you need a route without steps, contact the garden for advice about the areas you can reach. Give the entrance address when arranging a taxi or transfer.

The Cactus Lounge Café & Restaurant provides a reason to extend the visit. Check its opening and any separate reservation arrangements. Art and cultural events are also part of Ravino’s programme, but should be planned from the current calendar.

Ravino, La Mortella and Forio

La Mortella offers a rewarding contrast, with water, shade, large leaves and the Walton family’s musical history. Garden enthusiasts may enjoy both; other visitors can choose according to their interests and leave more time for Forio.

Allow time to travel between the gardens and choose a day when both are open. A single garden followed by Forio’s centre and the Soccorso church makes a satisfying outing in its own right.

Continue with our Ischia travel guide for towns, beaches and the island interior.

Plan your Ischia holiday. Explore our Ischia holidays and selected hotels. We’ll match the accommodation to your interests, requirements and budget, with transfers and private visits arranged as part of your land-only holiday. Flights are booked independently.

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