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Tra le limonaie di Limone sul Garda un percorso tra storia e cultura ...

Tra le limonaie di Limone sul Garda un percorso tra storia e cultura ...

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<strong>Limone</strong> all’inizio del Novecento.<strong>Limone</strong> in the early 20 th century.


Com<strong>un</strong>e <strong>di</strong> <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>Town of <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>L’osservatore che approda per la prima volta <strong>sul</strong>la sponda brescianadel <strong>Garda</strong> esprime imme<strong>di</strong>ato interesse verso <strong>le</strong> tante costruzioni,<strong>di</strong> grandezza <strong>di</strong>versa ma molto simili, che si affacciano<strong>sul</strong> lago e <strong>di</strong> cui non conosce il motivo della presenza. Vecchiefortificazioni, ruderi <strong>di</strong> abitazioni particolari o forse fabbricatidestinati all’agricoltura? Vera ammirazione oggi, così comecinquant’anni fa, od ancor <strong>di</strong> più, quando <strong>Limone</strong> e l’alto lagoerano certamente meno frequentati.L’attenzione aumenta quando all’indomani dal suo arrivo, in <strong>un</strong>afresca mattinata so<strong>le</strong>ggiata e con il vento che fasti<strong>di</strong>oso scompigliai capelli, può vedere più da vicino e toccare con mano <strong>un</strong> ambiente<strong>un</strong>ico. Dopo aver superato anfratti e risalito anguste sca<strong>le</strong>,si ritrova al cospetto <strong>di</strong> piante cariche d’agrumi, con <strong>le</strong> muraglieche d’incanto tolgono <strong>le</strong> folate: il nostro visitatore s’accorge chefra quei muri i raggi del so<strong>le</strong> <strong>di</strong>ventano più vigorosi.Questo accade anche alla limonaia del Castèl dove, dopo i lavori<strong>di</strong> restauro, l’apertura giornaliera è <strong>di</strong>ventata <strong>un</strong>a bella realtà. Abreve verrà opport<strong>un</strong>amente illuminata, per favorire visite seraliche si preann<strong>un</strong>ciano molto significative.Ed in virtù dell’interesse che cresce <strong>di</strong> giorno in giorno, è statorafforzato l’impegno dell’Amminis<strong>tra</strong>zione com<strong>un</strong>a<strong>le</strong> ottenendo,a livello gardesano, l’inserimento della struttura nella ReteMusea<strong>le</strong> Alto <strong>Garda</strong> e proponendo, a livello loca<strong>le</strong>, <strong>un</strong>a sorta<strong>di</strong> <strong>percorso</strong> che, oltre alla stessa del Castèl (ove è stata ancheri<strong>di</strong>pinta la “Madonna dei Limoni”), abbraccia altre <strong>limonaie</strong>,come quella del Tesöl o quella del Parco Villa Boghi. Quest’ultimaè stata realizzata <strong>di</strong> recente su <strong>un</strong> paio <strong>di</strong> terrazze già in passatoa<strong>di</strong>bite ad agrumeto; qui si possono ammirare bellissime foto edapprendere notizie <strong>sul</strong>l’agrumicoltura, con interessanti pannelliThe visitor arriving for the very first time on the Brescian shoreof Lake <strong>Garda</strong> is imme<strong>di</strong>ately struck by the many similar constructionsof various <strong>di</strong>mensions facing the lake and by theirmysterious purpose. Are they old fortifications, the remains of<strong>un</strong>usual dwellings, or perhaps farm buil<strong>di</strong>ngs? These structuresare just as admired today as they were more than a half centuryago, when <strong>Limone</strong> and the upper lake area were certainly <strong>le</strong>ssfamous as tourist spots.The interest increases the day after his arrival, on a cool, s<strong>un</strong>nymorning with a brisk breeze tousling his hair, when he can take acloser look at this <strong>un</strong>ique place. After negotiating win<strong>di</strong>ng recessesand climbing narrow steps, he finds himself stan<strong>di</strong>ng before citrustrees laden with fruit, with towering columns acting as sentinelsand walls that magically block the gusts of wind. Our visitor alsorealizes that the s<strong>un</strong>’s rays feel hotter within these walls.This also happens at the recently restored Castèl <strong>le</strong>mon house,which is open daily for visits and will soon be illuminated at night,making spectacular evening visits possib<strong>le</strong>.Due to this growing interest, the town Adminis<strong>tra</strong>tion has created a“museum” itinerary with not only the Castèl <strong>le</strong>mon house (wherethe “Madonna of the Lemons” was repainted), but also the Tesöland Villa Boghi Park <strong>le</strong>mon houses.The last one was recently built on several terraces that were usedas citrus groves in the past. Here you can admire beautiful photographsand <strong>le</strong>arn more about citrus farming through interestingbotanical and mythological info panels kindly on loan from thetown of Riva del <strong>Garda</strong>, the Autonomous Province of Trento, theProvince Agency for Environmental Protection, and the TridentinoMuseum of Natural Science.


a tema botanico e mitologico, gentilmente concessi in uso da Com<strong>un</strong>e<strong>di</strong> Riva del <strong>Garda</strong>, Provincia Autonoma <strong>di</strong> Trento, AgenziaProvincia<strong>le</strong> per la Protezione dell’Ambiente, Museo Tridentino<strong>di</strong> Scienze naturali.Molte del<strong>le</strong> iniziative in<strong>tra</strong>prese sono state realizzate con lacompartecipazione <strong>di</strong> idee e <strong>di</strong> risorse della Regione Lombar<strong>di</strong>a(Assessorati all’Agricoltura e al<strong>le</strong> Culture, Identità e Autonomie),nonché della Com<strong>un</strong>ità Montana Parco Alto <strong>Garda</strong> Bresciano,Ente che da tempo ha recuperato, in territorio <strong>di</strong> Tigna<strong>le</strong>, anchela limonaia del Pra dela fam.Già a <strong>Limone</strong> sono state illuminate la limonaia della Nùa eparte <strong>di</strong> quella della Garbéra; a breve verranno pure illuminatequel<strong>le</strong> <strong>di</strong> Reamòl e del Torrione, i cui privati hanno in corsolavori <strong>di</strong> ripristino. Commissionando la presente pubblicazione,l’Amminis<strong>tra</strong>zione com<strong>un</strong>a<strong>le</strong> ha inteso rafforzare il significatostorico, <strong>tra</strong><strong>di</strong>ziona<strong>le</strong> e <strong>cultura</strong><strong>le</strong> <strong>di</strong> queste costruzioni, affinchépossano contribuire alla ulteriore valorizzazione del territoriobenacense.Joseph FavaVicesindacoMany projects have been prepared with the contribution of ideasand resources of the Lombardy Region (the Agri<strong>cultura</strong>l and theCulture, Identity and Autonomy Co<strong>un</strong>cilors) and also Com<strong>un</strong>itàMontana Parco Alto <strong>Garda</strong> Bresciano, the organization responsib<strong>le</strong>for restoring the Pra dela fam <strong>le</strong>mon house in Tigna<strong>le</strong>.Lighting has been instal<strong>le</strong>d at the Nùa <strong>le</strong>mon house and in partof the Garbéra <strong>le</strong>mon house in <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>. The Reamòl<strong>le</strong>mon house and the Torrione <strong>le</strong>mon house, which is currentlybeing restored by its private owners, will also be lit shortly.By commissioning this publication, the town adminis<strong>tra</strong>tion wantsto <strong>un</strong>derline the historical, <strong>tra</strong><strong>di</strong>tional and <strong>cultura</strong>l significance ofthese structures and promote the natural beauty of <strong>Limone</strong>.Joseph FavaDeputy MayorVilla Boghi


I limoni a <strong>Limone</strong>Sicuramente la coltura agrumicola era praticata a <strong>Limone</strong> giàdai primi anni del Seicento. Lodovico Bettoni (1770-1828), nelsuo Diario, fa risalire al 1610 <strong>un</strong> primo impianto <strong>di</strong> limoni nelgiar<strong>di</strong>no della Garbéra. In <strong>un</strong> quadro datato 1658, custo<strong>di</strong>to nellacanonica della parrocchia<strong>le</strong> e raffigurante Sant’Antonio abate,con <strong>sul</strong>lo sfondo <strong>Limone</strong>, compaiono i pilastri <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong>a limonaia.Ma fu nella seconda metà del Seicento, con l’arrivo della famigliaBettoni, che la coltivazione e il commercio dei limoni <strong>di</strong>edero<strong>un</strong>’improvvisa acce<strong>le</strong>razione alla poverissima economia limonese.Il merito fu <strong>di</strong> Carlo Bettoni e dei suoi figli Giacomo, Gian Domenicoed Arcangelo che acquistarono terreni in località Garbéra, Se eReamòl per ampliarvi i giar<strong>di</strong>ni esistenti e costruirne <strong>di</strong> nuovi.Lemons in <strong>Limone</strong>Citrus fruits were grown in <strong>Limone</strong> already in the early 17 th century.Lodovico Bettoni (1770-1828) stated in his <strong>di</strong>ary that thefirst <strong>le</strong>mon grove was planted in a garden of Garbéra in 1610. Apainting from 1658 <strong>di</strong>splayed in the rectory of the parish churchpor<strong>tra</strong>ys Saint Anthony Abbot with <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> and thepillars of a <strong>le</strong>mon house in the backgro<strong>un</strong>d.But it was in the second half of the 17 th century, with the arrival ofthe Bettoni family, that the cultivation and sa<strong>le</strong> of <strong>le</strong>mons gave asudden boost to the poor <strong>Limone</strong> economy. The merit goes to CarloBettoni and his sons Giacomo, Gian Domenico and Arcangelo,who bought land in Garbéra, Se and Reamòl to expand existinggardens and build new ones.<strong>Limone</strong> in <strong>un</strong> particolare del quadro <strong>di</strong> Sant’Antonio, del 1658, custo<strong>di</strong>to nella canonica della parrocchia<strong>le</strong>; a sinis<strong>tra</strong> della chiesa è visibi<strong>le</strong> <strong>un</strong>a limonaia.<strong>Limone</strong> in a detail of the painting from 1658 of Saint Anthony fo<strong>un</strong>d in the parish church rectory; a <strong>le</strong>mon house can be seen to the <strong>le</strong>ft of the church.


<strong>Limone</strong> all’inizio del Novecento.<strong>Limone</strong> in the early 20 th century.Il nome <strong>Limone</strong>Fin dal sec. X in molti documenti appare il nome Limon,spesso <strong>tra</strong>sformato in Limonum, Limono e <strong>Limone</strong>. Secondoalc<strong>un</strong>i il nome deriva da limen = confine o da lima = fiume.Non si <strong>tra</strong>tta com<strong>un</strong>que <strong>di</strong> derivati dal fitonimo limone, ma“piuttosto <strong>di</strong> rif<strong>le</strong>ssi <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong>’antica voce <strong>di</strong> origine celtica limo,<strong>le</strong>mos, ‘olmo’”.Il nome del paese è stato <strong>Limone</strong> San Giovanni dal 1863; conil 1904 ha ass<strong>un</strong>to quello attua<strong>le</strong> <strong>di</strong> <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>.The name <strong>Limone</strong>The name Limon - often <strong>tra</strong>nsformed into Limonum, Limonoand <strong>Limone</strong> - appears on many documents already in the 10 thcentury. Accor<strong>di</strong>ng to some peop<strong>le</strong>, the name derives fromlimen, which means border, or lima, which means river. It thereforedoes not come from the word <strong>le</strong>mon, but “derives froman ancient Celtic word, limo or <strong>le</strong>mos, which means elm.”The town was named <strong>Limone</strong> San Giovanni since 1863, andacquired its current name - <strong>Limone</strong> Sul <strong>Garda</strong> – in 1904.


Mappa della limonaia <strong>di</strong> Reamòl del perito Giovanni Battista Nolli nell’“Iconografia de’ beni stabili de’ Signori Fratelli De’ Bettoni”, del 1724-1725.Map of the Reamòl <strong>le</strong>mon house by surveyor Giovanni Battista Nolli in the “Iconografia de’ beni stabili de’ Signori Fratelli De’ Bettoni”, from 1724-1725.


La struttura della limonaiaL’acqua <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong> ruscello, <strong>un</strong>a val<strong>le</strong>tta riparata, il declivio <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong>poggio, la vicinanza al lago erano prerogative importanti nellacostruzione <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong> giar<strong>di</strong>no <strong>di</strong> limoni, com<strong>un</strong>emente chiamatolimonaia e, in <strong>di</strong>a<strong>le</strong>tto, ṡardì.Spesso strutturata su più ripiani (cò<strong>le</strong>), col<strong>le</strong>gati da sca<strong>le</strong> in pie<strong>tra</strong>,poteva avere <strong>di</strong>mensioni assai varie. Una massiccia muraglia lachiudeva da tre parti, garantendone l’esposizione verso est-sud est;in posizione cen<strong>tra</strong><strong>le</strong>, o ad <strong>un</strong>a del<strong>le</strong> estremità, si trovava il casello(cas . èl), che f<strong>un</strong>geva da deposito dei materiali <strong>di</strong> copertura.Il tetto, spiovente all’in<strong>di</strong>etro, s’appoggiava sui pilastri, <strong>le</strong>gati<strong>tra</strong> loro, o con la muraglia, da grossi p<strong>un</strong>toni <strong>di</strong> castagno, del<strong>di</strong>ametro <strong>di</strong> circa 30-40 cm, detti sparadossi (sparadòs); perpen<strong>di</strong>colarmentea quelli, in cinque-sei linee <strong>tra</strong> loro paral<strong>le</strong><strong>le</strong>, eranofissati con chio<strong>di</strong> altri <strong>tra</strong>vi più sottili, i cantéri (cantér).In vista dei primi fred<strong>di</strong>, a novembre si cominciava a coprire lalimonaia: assi (as) per il tetto e, per il fronte solare, assi <strong>di</strong> mezzo(mes . ì), ve<strong>tra</strong>te (envédriàe) e portiere (üsére), appositamentenumerate.Le assi erano in abete, spesse 3 cm, larghe circa 20 cm e l<strong>un</strong>ghe5-6 m. Se ne accostavano due, se ne posava sopra <strong>un</strong>a terza e sichiodavano insieme l<strong>un</strong>go la linea dei <strong>tra</strong>vetti più piccoli. Sulfronte solare si procedeva alla copertura sfruttando come or<strong>di</strong>tura<strong>le</strong> tre <strong>tra</strong>vi in larice (filarö<strong>le</strong>), <strong>tra</strong> loro paral<strong>le</strong><strong>le</strong>, inserite nei pilastridella stessa còla, a tre livelli, bloccate ad <strong>un</strong>’estremità in <strong>un</strong>apie<strong>tra</strong> ad incastro (préa da filaröla). <strong>Tra</strong> <strong>un</strong> pilastro e l’altro sifissavano in genere 5-6 assi <strong>di</strong> mezzo, 2-3 ve<strong>tra</strong>te e 2 portiere.Le tavo<strong>le</strong> <strong>di</strong> mezzo, l<strong>un</strong>ghe 5-7 m e larghe 20-25 cm, erano costituiteda due assi sovrapposte, inchiodate, <strong>un</strong>a più stretta dell’al<strong>tra</strong>in modo da formare <strong>un</strong>a controbattuta; erano fissate al<strong>le</strong> filarö<strong>le</strong>con cavicchi (cavìc’ o biröi), in <strong>le</strong>gno, l<strong>un</strong>ghi circa 10-12 cm,inseriti nell’ocèl del<strong>le</strong> cavìcie.Le ve<strong>tra</strong>te, l<strong>un</strong>ghe circa 5-7 m e larghe 50 cm, erano formate da <strong>un</strong>telaio e da <strong>tra</strong>versine in <strong>le</strong>gno <strong>di</strong> abete che facevano da supporto aivetri; venivano appoggiate sempre per il l<strong>un</strong>go ai mes . ì e fermatecon assicel<strong>le</strong> (paserè<strong>le</strong> o galèc’), in <strong>le</strong>gno, girevoli intorno ad<strong>un</strong> chiodo.Le portiere, l<strong>un</strong>ghe circa 5-7 m e larghe circa 50 cm, erano sem-Pilastri, filarö<strong>le</strong>, sparadòs e cantér.


The <strong>le</strong>mon housePillars, filarö<strong>le</strong>, sparadòs and cantér.Water from a stream, a sheltered val<strong>le</strong>y, a gently sloping hill, andproximity to the lake were the f<strong>un</strong>damental requirements forbuil<strong>di</strong>ng an enclosed <strong>le</strong>mon garden cal<strong>le</strong>d <strong>le</strong>mon house or ṡardìin the local <strong>di</strong>a<strong>le</strong>ct.Often built on several terraces (cò<strong>le</strong>), linked by stone stairs, thesestructures came in many <strong>di</strong>fferent sizes. A massive wall enclose<strong>di</strong>t on three sides to ensure an eastern-southeastern exposure. Atits center or on one of its extremities was the cas . èl, a shed forstoring roofing materials.The roof, which slanted toward the back, was supported by pillarsconnected by walls or large chestnut rafters cal<strong>le</strong>d sparadòs thatwere 30 to 40 centimeters in <strong>di</strong>ameter. Other smal<strong>le</strong>r beams cal<strong>le</strong>dcanter were nai<strong>le</strong>d in five or six paral<strong>le</strong>l lines perpen<strong>di</strong>cular tothe sparadòs.The <strong>le</strong>mon house was covered when the first frosts arrived inNovember. Wide planks cal<strong>le</strong>d as were laid on the roof, whi<strong>le</strong>narrower planks cal<strong>le</strong>d mes . ì, glass windows (envédriàe), andspecially numbered doors (üsére) were instal<strong>le</strong>d on the facade.The fir wood planks used on the roof were about 5 to 6 meters long,20 centimeters wide and 3 centimeters thick. Two planks were laidside by side, and a third was laid on top of the two; all were nai<strong>le</strong>dalong the line of the smal<strong>le</strong>r beams. A frame was constructed onthe front using three larch beams cal<strong>le</strong>d filarö<strong>le</strong> that were inserted,in paral<strong>le</strong>l, into the pillars of the shed on three <strong>le</strong>vels. Theywere blocked at one end by a stone that fit into a slot (préa dafilaröla). Five to six wood planks, two to three glass panes, andtwo doors were instal<strong>le</strong>d between one pillar and another.The planks used on the front, which were 5 to 7 meters long and20 to 25 centimeters wide, were composed of two overlappingplanks that were nai<strong>le</strong>d together (one was narrower than theother to form a sort of <strong>le</strong>dge) These were attached to the filarö<strong>le</strong>with wooden pins (cavìc’ or biröi), about 10-12 centimeters long,inserted into slots.The glass windows on the front, which were between 5 and 6 meterstall and 50 centimeters wide, were formed by a fir wood frame andcrosspieces that held the glass panes in place. These windows were


propped up against the meṡì planks and held into place by woodpieces (paserè<strong>le</strong> or galèc’) that pivoted on a nail.The doors, which were between 5 to 7 meters tall and about 50centimeters wide, were simp<strong>le</strong> planks laid side by side and nai<strong>le</strong>d tothree crosspieces. They also had hinges so they could be opened.The <strong>le</strong>mon house had to be closed against the cold in November.Dry grass (pàbol) was used to seal (stupinàr) all gaps. An oldproverb said “A Sànta Caterìna, stüpìna, stüpìna!”(By SaintCaterina’s, seal them!”), meaning the sealing process had tobe comp<strong>le</strong>ted by November 25 th , which was the feast day of thesaint.The <strong>le</strong>mon tree and its fruit suffer when the temperature nears0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). If that happened, theonly remedy was fogàr (lighting fires with kindling, branches and<strong>le</strong>aves) all along the terraces.Particolare del fronte solare <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong>a limonaia, con mes . ì, envédriàe e üsére.Detail of the glass front of a <strong>le</strong>mon house, with mes . ì, envédriàe and üsére.plici tavo<strong>le</strong> accostate in piano e <strong>un</strong>ite con chio<strong>di</strong> su tre assicel<strong>le</strong><strong>tra</strong>sversali; provviste <strong>di</strong> car<strong>di</strong>ni, erano apribili.A novembre la serra doveva essere ben chiusa. Per tappare (stupinàr)ogni fessura si utilizzava dell’erba fatta seccare (pàbol).Il proverbio imponeva: “A Sànta Caterìna, stüpìna, stüpìna!”,a significare che il giorno <strong>di</strong> Santa Caterina, il 25 novembre,l’operazione doveva essere ultimata.Il limone, pianta e frutto, soffre quando ci si avvicina alla temperatura<strong>di</strong> 0°; in tal caso non restava che fogàr, cioè accendere deifuochi l<strong>un</strong>go i terrazzi, con pezzi <strong>di</strong> <strong>le</strong>gno, frasche e rami.Chio<strong>di</strong> per <strong>le</strong> assi.Nails for the planks.10


Una limonaia del <strong>Garda</strong> (incisione da J.C. Volkamer, 1708).A <strong>le</strong>mon house of <strong>Garda</strong> (engraving by J.C. Volkamer, 1708).11


La coltivazione dei limoniOgni pianta nella serra aveva a <strong>di</strong>sposizione <strong>un</strong>a superficie <strong>di</strong> circa16-20 metri quadrati, detta campo (cap) o campata (campàa);era il numero dei campi a definire l’estensione <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong> giar<strong>di</strong>no.Già nel Cinquecento Agostino Gallo dettava alc<strong>un</strong>e rego<strong>le</strong> perla coltivazione dei limoni, raccomandando che <strong>le</strong> piante <strong>di</strong>sponessero<strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong> terreno grasso e ripulito dai sassi, che il <strong>le</strong>tamefosse steso prima <strong>di</strong> zappare e con la limonaia ancora scoperta 6 .Oltre che concimare, si doveva tener pulito il terreno dall’erba,vangare, potare, irrigare, coprire e scoprire la serra. La raccolta(spicànda) dei frutti era fatta a mano, stando su appositi scalinio treppie<strong>di</strong>; i limoni venivano posti in <strong>un</strong> sacco (grümiàl) inpel<strong>le</strong> d’anima<strong>le</strong>.I limoni fioriscono più volte all’anno. Alla prima fioritura <strong>di</strong> maggiofanno seguito quel<strong>le</strong> più moderate dei mesi estivi e aut<strong>un</strong>nali.I frutti <strong>di</strong> maggio sono meno lisci e roton<strong>di</strong> <strong>di</strong> quelli <strong>di</strong> giugno eluglio. Sono questi i frutti migliori, mentre sono meno pregiatiquelli d’agosto. Fioritura e raccolta proseguono, ridotte, anchein settembre ed ottobre.Tenendo conto della produzione <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong> decennio, <strong>un</strong>a pianta inpiena attività forniva me<strong>di</strong>amente, nel<strong>le</strong> due principali raccolte<strong>di</strong> maggio e giugno, 500-600 limoni.Molteplici erano gli usi cui erano destinati gli agrumi. AgostinoGallo scrisse che “si cavano denari non pochi da tutte <strong>le</strong> sortidel<strong>le</strong> piante... da i fiori de cedri per mangiarli nel<strong>le</strong> insalate, e perconservarli nell’aceto, o per con<strong>di</strong>rli col me<strong>le</strong>, o col zuccharo; ancoda quelli degli aranci e de gli altri simili per far del<strong>le</strong> acque nanfepretiosissime. ...degl’immaturi si fanno molti con<strong>di</strong>ti delicati,come anco de gli arancietti si fanno del<strong>le</strong> corone bel<strong>le</strong> da vedere,e molto grate da odorar. Et i maturi, e belli si sa quanto sono inprezzo ne i conviti, nel confettarli, nel darli a gl’amalati, e nelponerli nel<strong>le</strong> me<strong>di</strong>cine... Et ol<strong>tra</strong> che si cavano danari del<strong>le</strong> scorzede gli aranzi per fare la buona mostarda, l’aranciata, i paradelli,gli arancieti e il pane speciato” 7 .Ricercata era l’acqua <strong>di</strong> cedro, prodotta a Salò dalla secondametà del sec. XVIII per iniziativa <strong>di</strong> Antonio Bonar<strong>di</strong> e, dal 1840,<strong>di</strong> Luigi Patuzzi.La raccolta dei limoni.Lemon picking.12


Growing <strong>le</strong>monsLa raccolta dei limoni.Lemon picking.Each tree in the <strong>le</strong>mon house had an availab<strong>le</strong> surface area ofbetween 16 and 20 square meters that was cal<strong>le</strong>d a plot (cap orcampàa). The number of plots determined the size of a garden.Already in the 16 th century Agostino Gallo established severalru<strong>le</strong>s for growing <strong>le</strong>mons, recommen<strong>di</strong>ng that the plants haverich gravel-free soil and that fertilizer be spread before the soilwas hoed and the <strong>le</strong>mon house was still <strong>un</strong>covered 6 . Besidesfertilizing, the soil had to be weeded and hoed, the trees had tobe pr<strong>un</strong>ed and irrigated, and the <strong>le</strong>mon house had to be coveredand <strong>un</strong>covered.The <strong>le</strong>mons were picked (spicànda) by hand whi<strong>le</strong> pickers stoodon special ladders or three-<strong>le</strong>gged stools, and were then place<strong>di</strong>n a <strong>le</strong>ather sack (grümiàl).Lemon trees flower several times a year, first in May then throughoutthe summer and fall. The fruits of May are not as smoothand ro<strong>un</strong>d as the fruits of J<strong>un</strong>e and July. These are the best fruits,whi<strong>le</strong> the <strong>le</strong>mons grown in August are considered <strong>le</strong>ss valuab<strong>le</strong>.The trees bloom and fruit is also picked, but in minor quantity,in September and October. Taking into acco<strong>un</strong>t the productionover a decade, one tree in full production supplied between 500and 600 <strong>le</strong>mons, on average, during the two main harvests ofMay and J<strong>un</strong>e.Citrus fruits were used for many things. Agostino Gallo wrote“a good amo<strong>un</strong>t of money can be made from many parts of theplants… citron blossoms can be eaten in salads or preserved invinegar to be served with honey or sugar; even orange blossomscan be used for making superb scented waters….<strong>un</strong>ripe fruit isused for many delicate con<strong>di</strong>ments, and tiny oranges are used tomake wreaths that are beautiful to look at and delightful to smell.The ripe fruit is valued for eating, making preserves and is givento the sick and also used in me<strong>di</strong>cines….even orange peels aresold for making good pick<strong>le</strong>d fruit relish, orange juice, paradellofocaccias, liqueur and spiced bread” 7 .Citron water, which was first produced in Salò in the second halfof the 18 th century by Antonio Bonar<strong>di</strong> and has been made byLuigi Patuzzi since 1840, was also quite popular.13


J. Wolfang Goethe e <strong>le</strong> <strong>limonaie</strong> <strong>di</strong> <strong>Limone</strong>Famosa è la descrizione del<strong>le</strong> <strong>limonaie</strong> <strong>di</strong> <strong>Limone</strong> che J. WolfangGoethe, passando in barca da Torbo<strong>le</strong> a Malcesine, <strong>tra</strong>cciò nelViaggio in Italia; d’<strong>un</strong> colpo il paese, i suoi giar<strong>di</strong>ni e i limonien<strong>tra</strong>rono nel<strong>le</strong> pagine della <strong>le</strong>tteratura mon<strong>di</strong>a<strong>le</strong>:13 settembre 1786Il mattino era magnifico, <strong>un</strong> po’ nuvoloso, ma, al <strong>le</strong>var del so<strong>le</strong>,calmo. Passammo davanti a <strong>Limone</strong>, con i suoi giar<strong>di</strong>ni a terrazzesu per il pen<strong>di</strong>o dei monti; <strong>un</strong>o spettacolo <strong>di</strong> ricchezza e <strong>di</strong> grazia.L’intero giar<strong>di</strong>no consta <strong>di</strong> fi<strong>le</strong> <strong>di</strong> bianchi pilastri quadrangolariche sono collocati ad <strong>un</strong>a certa <strong>di</strong>stanza l’<strong>un</strong>o dall’altro, su peril declivio del monte, a gra<strong>di</strong>ni. Sopra questi pilastri sono collocatedel<strong>le</strong> robuste pertiche per coprire, in inverno, gli alberi checrescono negli intervalli. La <strong>le</strong>ntezza della <strong>tra</strong>versata favoriva l’osservazionee la contemplazione <strong>di</strong> questo piacevo<strong>le</strong> spettacolo 8 .J. W. Goethe and the <strong>le</strong>mon houses of <strong>Limone</strong>In his <strong>di</strong>ary, <strong>Tra</strong>vels in Italy, J. Wolfgang Goethe mentioned the<strong>le</strong>mon houses of <strong>Limone</strong> that he saw during a boat trip fromTorbo<strong>le</strong> to Malcesine on Lake <strong>Garda</strong>. This famous descriptionimme<strong>di</strong>ately brought the town, its gardens and <strong>le</strong>mons to theattention of the international literary world:September 13, 1786“The morning was magnificent: a bit cloudy, but calm as the s<strong>un</strong>rose. We sai<strong>le</strong>d past <strong>Limone</strong>, with its terraced gardens perched onthe hill slopes: it was a spectac<strong>le</strong> of ab<strong>un</strong>dance and grace. Theentire garden is composed of rows of square white pillars toppedby heavy beams to cover the trees that grow during winter. Theslow crossing made it possib<strong>le</strong> to better observe and contemplatethis p<strong>le</strong>asing spectac<strong>le</strong>” 8 .<strong>Limone</strong> in <strong>un</strong>a xilografia apparsa nel 1889 su “Uber Land <strong>un</strong>d Meer. Deutsche Illustrierte Zeit<strong>un</strong>g”.<strong>Limone</strong> in a xylograph that appeared in 1889 in “Uber Land <strong>un</strong>d Meer. Deutsche Illustrierte Zeit<strong>un</strong>g”.14


<strong>Limone</strong> all’inizio del Novecento.<strong>Limone</strong> in the early 20 th century.15


Il commercio dei limoniUna volta spiccati, i limoni venivano scelti e sud<strong>di</strong>visi secondo lagrossezza; c’erano fini, sopraffini, scarti, scartarelli e cascaticci,con destinazione <strong>di</strong>fferente: fini, sopraffini e i migliori degliscarti l’Ungheria, il Tirolo e i paesi vicini, “lasciando con queidella quarta in Italia i loro fratelli meno e<strong>le</strong>tti, mentre gli ultimi<strong>di</strong> rado varcano il confine della provincia” 1 .Così si potevano avere varie denominazioni: limoni fini usoPolonia, fini uso Ungheria, fini uso Russia, sopraffini uso Austria,sottofini uso Vienna, scarti mercantili, scarti uso Milano,etc., cui corrispondeva <strong>un</strong> prezzo <strong>di</strong>versificato, che si fissava percentinaia.I limoni venivano incartocciati e <strong>di</strong>sposti in casse <strong>di</strong> <strong>le</strong>gno; ogn<strong>un</strong>ane poteva contenere da 500 a 1.000. Si richiedeva particolarecura anche per il loro <strong>tra</strong>sporto, dal qua<strong>le</strong> <strong>di</strong>pendeva il buonesito dell’operazione commercia<strong>le</strong>. Il carico e lo scarico dovevanoessere eseguiti con <strong>un</strong>a certa delicatezza, perché la merce nonsubisse colpi e quin<strong>di</strong> non deteriorasse. Il pericolo era più graveovviamente per <strong>le</strong> destinazioni più lontane. Il commercio versonord seguiva la via <strong>di</strong> Torbo<strong>le</strong> e Nago in <strong>di</strong>rezione Bolzano, doveesisteva <strong>un</strong>a piazza <strong>di</strong> smistamento 10 ; avvantaggiato dal minorcosto del <strong>tra</strong>sporto rispetto ai limoni genovesi e del Sud Italia,prendeva preva<strong>le</strong>ntemente la via della Germania, del nord Europae della Russia.Gian Domenico Bettoni agli inizi del Settecento fondò in Bogliacola <strong>di</strong>tta “G. Francesco Bentotti” per il commercio dei limoni 11 . Essaaveva agenti sparsi ov<strong>un</strong>que, in Italia e in Europa nord orienta<strong>le</strong>.Nell’Archivio Bettoni sono custo<strong>di</strong>ti i registri, il carteggio <strong>tra</strong> la<strong>di</strong>tta e i suoi rappresentanti, i bilanci, <strong>le</strong> <strong>le</strong>ttere con i nomi deiricevitori, da Vienna a Praga, Cracovia, Varsavia, Leopoli, Ulma,Costanza, Trieste, Milano, etc.Dal Settecento il litora<strong>le</strong> a nord <strong>di</strong> Salò, a quasi 46° <strong>di</strong> latitu<strong>di</strong>ne,<strong>di</strong>venne la zona <strong>di</strong> coltivazione <strong>di</strong> agrumi più settentriona<strong>le</strong> almondo 12 .Il limone del <strong>Garda</strong> era apprezzato per <strong>le</strong> sue qualità “me<strong>di</strong>cinali”,per l’“acidezza”, l’“aromatica fragranza del succo e dellacorteccia”, il “suo durar fresco più a l<strong>un</strong>go d’ogni altro”; a ciòsi aggi<strong>un</strong>gevano la sottigliezza e la lucentezza della scorza, laforma più rotonda, che facevano raddoppiare o triplicare il prezzorispetto a quello dei limoni <strong>di</strong> altre zone d’Italia.Secondo Lodovico Bettoni, proprio <strong>Limone</strong> dava il “limone modello”;nella <strong>le</strong>ttera della <strong>di</strong>tta Bentotti a Giuseppe Della Casa del10 <strong>di</strong>cembre 1846 si descrive la merce come la migliore, precisando:“Io vi servo con limoni <strong>di</strong> <strong>Limone</strong>, che sono più grossi, epiù colloriti”.16


The <strong>le</strong>mon <strong>tra</strong>deOnce the <strong>le</strong>mons were picked, they were sorted accor<strong>di</strong>ng tosize (fine, superfine, second-rate, rejects, and overly ripe) and<strong>di</strong>fferent destinations. The fine, superfine, and best of the second-rate<strong>le</strong>mons went to H<strong>un</strong>gary, Tyrol and nearby co<strong>un</strong>tries,“<strong>le</strong>aving in Italy the second-rates and rejects, which were rarelysold outside the province” 9 .Thus, <strong>le</strong>mons were given various names: fine <strong>le</strong>mons for Poland,fine <strong>le</strong>mons for H<strong>un</strong>gary, fine <strong>le</strong>mons for Russia, superfine<strong>le</strong>mons for Austria, superfine <strong>le</strong>mons for Vienna, rejects for commercialpurposes, rejects for Milan, etc. Each type had a <strong>di</strong>fferentprice, which was given for one h<strong>un</strong>dred <strong>le</strong>mons.Lemons were wrapped in tissue paper and placed in wooden crates:each could hold between 500 and 1,000 <strong>le</strong>mons. <strong>Tra</strong>nsportationalso had to ensure that the product arrived in good con<strong>di</strong>tion atdestination, so crates were loaded and <strong>un</strong>loaded carefully to prevent<strong>le</strong>mons from bruising and deteriorating in quality. Shipping the fruitto the most remote destinations was the biggest hazard: fruit <strong>tra</strong>velingnorth went by way of Torbo<strong>le</strong> and Nago to Bolzano, where there wasa sorting station 10 . Because they cost <strong>le</strong>ss to ship compared to <strong>le</strong>monsfrom Genoa and Southern Italy, <strong>Limone</strong>’s citrus fruits were mainlyshipped to Germany, Northern Europe and Russia.In the early 18 th century, Gian Domenico Bettoni fo<strong>un</strong>ded the “G.Francesco Bentotti” company in Bogliaco for the <strong>le</strong>mon <strong>tra</strong>de 11 . Ithas agents throughout Italy and Northeastern Europe. The Bettoniarchive has the registry books and correspondence between thecompany and its agents, as well as balance sheets and <strong>le</strong>tters withthe names of recipients from Vienna, Prague, Krakow, Warsaw,Lviv, Ulm, Konstanz, Trieste, Milan, etc.Since the 18 th century, the coastal area north of Salò, at the latitudeof 46 degrees, became the northernmost area in the worldfor growing citrus fruits 12 .The <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>le</strong>mon was appreciated for its “me<strong>di</strong>cinal” qualities,its “aci<strong>di</strong>ty”, the “aromatic fragrance of its juice and peel”, an<strong>di</strong>ts “freshness that lasts longer than any other”. Its thin, shinypeel and ro<strong>un</strong>der shape were also preferred. As a re<strong>sul</strong>t, <strong>Garda</strong><strong>le</strong>mons cost two to three times more than <strong>le</strong>mons from otherareas of Italy.Accor<strong>di</strong>ng to Lodovico Bettoni, <strong>Limone</strong> grew the “perfect <strong>le</strong>mon”.A <strong>le</strong>tter dated December 10, 1846, from the Bentotti company toGiuseppe Della Casa, described the goods as being the best, andpointed out, “I am sen<strong>di</strong>ng you <strong>le</strong>mons from <strong>Limone</strong>, which arethe largest and have the best color.”Casse per il <strong>tra</strong>sporto dei limoni.Lemon crates.17


Una statistica <strong>sul</strong>la produzione dei limoniDal 1834 al 1840 <strong>le</strong> spicànde alla Garbéra e a Reamòl fecero regis<strong>tra</strong>re i seguenti dati:1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 18401ª spicànda 161.550 220.600 25.633 79.151 70.525 85.092 101.3502ª spicànda 72.675 206.512 32.170 48.990 96.456 68.020 77.2253ª spicànda - 137.847 65.531 50.017 96.000 - 41.4754ª spicànda 591.705 72.767 66.636 80.780 126.605 - 19.7755ª spicànda 142.350 40.137 79.018 45.352 129.600 67.265 11.6606ª spicànda 89.500 12.320 62.640 39.000 149.849 101.100 5.3757ª spicànda - 13.950 29.005 15.200 222.704 107.506 2.2808ª spicànda 88.650 - 23.809 13.025 117.584 7.700 9.310Tota<strong>le</strong> 1.146.430 704.133 384.442 371.515 1.009.323 436.683 268.460Pesanti furono gli effetti della gommosi, <strong>un</strong>a malattia che, a partire dal 1855, si <strong>di</strong>ffuse nei giar<strong>di</strong>ni del <strong>Garda</strong> provocando il crollodella produzione e del commercio. Dal 1871 al 1879 il prezzo <strong>di</strong> 100 limoni “mercantili” passò da L. 6,14 a L. 5,14, quello <strong>di</strong> 100 “noncontabili”, cioè <strong>di</strong> seconda scelta, da L. 2,34 a L. 2,41.18


Limonaie nel primo Novecento,a San Rocco e al Castèl.Lemon groves in the early 20 thcentury in San Rocco and Castèl.La crisiNella seconda metà dell’Ottocento a <strong>Limone</strong> la superficie adagrumeto era calcolata in 6,59 ettari. La produzione della primaspiccanda del 1874 ammontava a 76.000 limoni; il raccolto del 1876fu definito “appena <strong>un</strong>a sesta parte <strong>di</strong> quello del 1875”, quello del1878 “scarso ed inferiore a quello dello scorso anno”, quello del1879 “avuto per base la me<strong>di</strong>a del prodotto che si otteneva nell’epocain cui non vi era malattia nel<strong>le</strong> piante si può calcolare <strong>di</strong> 50 percento”. Nel 1879, per l’inchiesta agraria, si stimava la produzione<strong>di</strong> 550.000 limoni, 8.000 arance e 3 q <strong>di</strong> cedri.A cavallo <strong>tra</strong> Ottocento e Novecento la produzione agrumariacominciò a risentire in modo irreversibi<strong>le</strong> della crisi, determinata,oltre che dalla concorrenza dei limoni del<strong>le</strong> regioni meri<strong>di</strong>onali,prodotti a costi irrisori, e dalla scoperta dell’acido citrico sintetico,dal<strong>le</strong> “forti spese <strong>di</strong> manutenzione” del<strong>le</strong> serre. La spintaalla coltivazione, che per decenni era rimasta integra, si andavaesaurendo. D’al<strong>tra</strong> parte era impossibi<strong>le</strong> riconvertire <strong>le</strong> <strong>limonaie</strong>,a causa della loro stessa particolare struttura, in nuc<strong>le</strong>i economicipiù congeniali, se non a prezzo <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong>a nuova mentalità e <strong>di</strong>ulteriori investimenti.Il prezzo dei limoni <strong>di</strong>minuì considerevolmente. Per i limoni“mercantili” dei Bettoni si passò da L. 5,77 ogni cento nel 1892a L. 2,31 nel 1897 a L. 1,83 nel 1908; per i “non contabili” rispettivamenteda L. 2,94 a L. 1,39 a L. 1,554. Lo stato <strong>di</strong> crisi eraevidente!The crisisThere were 6.59 hectares of citrus groves in <strong>Limone</strong> by the secondhalf of the 19 th century. The first harvest of 1874 amo<strong>un</strong>ted to76,000 <strong>le</strong>mons, the 1876 harvest was “just one sixth of what washarvested in 1875”, and the 1878 harvest was “scarce and <strong>le</strong>ssthan the previous year.” The 1879 harvest was “50% that of anaverage harvest when the plants were not sick”.An agri<strong>cultura</strong>l survey in 1879 estimated that production amo<strong>un</strong>tedto 550,000 <strong>le</strong>mons, 8,000 oranges, and 3 quintals of citrons.At the turn of the 20 th century, the citrus production in <strong>Limone</strong>began to suffer from the crisis caused by competition fromsouthern regions (whose production costs were extremely low),by the <strong>di</strong>scovery of synthetic citric acid, and also by the “highmaintenance costs” of the <strong>le</strong>mon houses.The demand for <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>le</strong>mons, which remained stab<strong>le</strong> fordecades, began to <strong>di</strong>minish. Due to their particular structure, itwould also have been impossib<strong>le</strong> to reconvert the <strong>le</strong>mon housesinto more economically viab<strong>le</strong> businesses <strong>un</strong><strong>le</strong>ss local inhabitantschanged their mentality and were willing to make ad<strong>di</strong>tionalinvestments.The price of <strong>le</strong>mons dropped. Bettoni’s “commercial” <strong>le</strong>monswent from 5.77 lire for 100 in 1892 to 2.31 lire in 1897 and 1.83lire in 1908, whi<strong>le</strong> “bulk” <strong>le</strong>mons went from 2.94 lire to 1.39 lireand 1.554 lire. C<strong>le</strong>arly, the sector was in crisis!19


“Limoni, prego, limoni del <strong>Garda</strong>!”Il 1929 fu l’anno dell’avvio dei lavori <strong>di</strong> costruzione della“Gardesana occidenta<strong>le</strong>”. Dall’ottobre 1931, rompendo il secolareisolamento, l’arteria mise in com<strong>un</strong>icazione <strong>Limone</strong> conGargnano e Riva del <strong>Garda</strong>: sembrava prospettarsi <strong>un</strong> avveniremigliore per il paese.In effetti con la s<strong>tra</strong>da prese <strong>le</strong>ntamente avvio il fenomeno turistico,anche se in forma occasiona<strong>le</strong> e limitata.E per i limoni prodotti si idearono nuove modalità <strong>di</strong> commercializzazione:molti al<strong>le</strong>stirono nel<strong>le</strong> piazzo<strong>le</strong> l<strong>un</strong>go la s<strong>tra</strong>da, sottogli s<strong>tra</strong>piombi <strong>di</strong> roccia, all’ombra <strong>di</strong> olivi e cipressi, treppie<strong>di</strong>e carretti per esporre e vendere mazzi <strong>di</strong> limoni ed arance agliautomobilisti in <strong>tra</strong>nsito.“Buy your <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>le</strong>mons here!”Construction on the Gardesana Occidenta<strong>le</strong> road began in 1929.Centuries of isolation ended in October 1931 when the road wasinaugurated and finally linked <strong>Limone</strong> with Gargnano and Rivadel <strong>Garda</strong>. The future looked much brighter for the town.Afterwards, tourism gradually increased, although it was still verylimited and spora<strong>di</strong>c.Peop<strong>le</strong> thought up of new ways to sell the local <strong>le</strong>mons. Many set uptab<strong>le</strong>s and parked their carts along the road, beneath the toweringcliffs and in the shade of olive and cypress trees, to <strong>di</strong>splay andsell <strong>le</strong>mons and oranges to peop<strong>le</strong> driving on the road.Giacomo Fava vende “màse de limù”<strong>sul</strong>la Gardesana.Giacomo Fava sells “màse de limù”on the Gardesana road.20


Marcello Dagnoli con i limoni verso Reamòl.Marcello Dagnoli with the <strong>le</strong>mon trees near Reamòl.Viaggiando per i saliscen<strong>di</strong> o sbucando dai meandri del<strong>le</strong> gal<strong>le</strong>rie…<strong>un</strong>a macchia <strong>di</strong> colore giallo ci at<strong>tra</strong>e ogni tanto.Una piccola carrettella, <strong>un</strong> uomo o <strong>un</strong> ado<strong>le</strong>scente scamiciati;talvolta robuste conta<strong>di</strong>notte in chiari vestiti <strong>di</strong> cotone che<strong>le</strong>ggono il “Grand Hotel”, aspettando pazienti la sosta delforestiero.Le carrette inghirlandate <strong>di</strong> cedri, aranci e limoni hanno <strong>un</strong> che<strong>di</strong> aereo e me<strong>di</strong>terraneo. Mettono gioia solo a veder<strong>le</strong> come igrappoli <strong>di</strong> palloni colorati alla fiera <strong>di</strong> Milano. Sembrano prontea spiccare il volo verso <strong>le</strong> assolate cime dell’Altissimo o delmonte Baldo. 13As we ride up and down the hills and emerge from the win<strong>di</strong>ngt<strong>un</strong>nels….our eyes are occasionally drawn to splashesof yellow: a small cart with a bare-chested man or boy, andsometimes a plump farm girl in a light cotton dress, rea<strong>di</strong>ngthe “Grand Hotel” magazine and patiently waiting for s<strong>tra</strong>ngersto stop.The carts full of citrons, oranges and <strong>le</strong>mons have somethingairy and Me<strong>di</strong>terranean about them. The cheerful sightresemb<strong>le</strong>s b<strong>un</strong>ches of colorful balloons at the Milan Expo,ready to take flight towards the s<strong>un</strong>ny peaks of the Altissimoor Baldo mo<strong>un</strong>tains. 1321


Le <strong>limonaie</strong>: <strong>un</strong> patrimonio da salvareLe <strong>limonaie</strong>, ineguagliabi<strong>le</strong> patrimonio storico ed architettonicodel <strong>Garda</strong>, restano oggi a documentare <strong>un</strong> passato <strong>di</strong> lavoro e <strong>di</strong>fatica. Per salvaguardar<strong>le</strong> sono stati promossi interventi significativi:a Tigna<strong>le</strong> la Com<strong>un</strong>ità Montana dell’Alto <strong>Garda</strong> ha ristrutturatonel 1985 tre cò<strong>le</strong> del giar<strong>di</strong>no del Pra dela fam; a <strong>Limone</strong>l’Amminis<strong>tra</strong>zione com<strong>un</strong>a<strong>le</strong> ha rimesso in pristino nel 2004 <strong>le</strong><strong>limonaie</strong> del Castèl e <strong>di</strong> Villa Boghi. Restauri sono stati attuati oprogettati anche a Toscolano Maderno e a Gardone Riviera.Lemon houses: a heritage to saveThe <strong>le</strong>mon houses, which are an incomparab<strong>le</strong> historical andarchitectural <strong>le</strong>gacy of Lake <strong>Garda</strong>, are vestiges of a laboriousand productive past. Several major projects have been la<strong>un</strong>chedto preserve them. The Com<strong>un</strong>ità Montana dell’Alto <strong>Garda</strong> restoredthree cò<strong>le</strong> terraces of the Pra dela fam <strong>le</strong>mon house in Tigna<strong>le</strong> in1985, and the city of <strong>Limone</strong> restored the Castèl and Villa Boghi<strong>le</strong>mon houses in 2004. Restoration projects are <strong>un</strong>derway orpen<strong>di</strong>ng also in Toscolano Maderno and Gardone Riviera.La limonaia del Pra dela fam.The Pra dela fam <strong>le</strong>mon house.22


La limonaia del Pra dela fam a Tigna<strong>le</strong>Al Pra dela fam, minuscola striscia <strong>di</strong> terra <strong>sul</strong> lago <strong>tra</strong> <strong>le</strong> foci dei torrentiPiovere e Baès, con atto del 27 luglio 1754 la famiglia Parisini <strong>di</strong>Gargnano venne in possesso del terreno su cui fece costruire <strong>un</strong> primogiar<strong>di</strong>no, oggi denominato “Giar<strong>di</strong>no vecchio”; nel 1850 vi aggi<strong>un</strong>se,esposto più a sud, il “Giar<strong>di</strong>no nuovo”, su otto cò<strong>le</strong>.I due giar<strong>di</strong>ni del Pra, <strong>un</strong>itamente a quello appena più a nord denominatoÀngerer o Àngher, sempre <strong>di</strong> proprietà Parisini, produssero limonifino al primo Novecento. Poi il “Giar<strong>di</strong>no vecchio” fu abbandonato ase stesso; dalla metà degli anni Sessanta anche l’Àngher e il “Giar<strong>di</strong>nonuovo” vissero stagioni incerte.I proprietari cercarono soluzioni alternative, ma senza successo. Nel1985, per iniziativa della Com<strong>un</strong>ità Montana dell’Alto <strong>Garda</strong>, sonostati recuperati 75 campi del “Giar<strong>di</strong>no nuovo”; attualmente vi sono inproduzione <strong>un</strong> centinaio <strong>di</strong> agrumi, <strong>di</strong> cui 66 limoni.The Pra dela fam <strong>le</strong>mon house in Tigna<strong>le</strong>Accor<strong>di</strong>ng to a document dated July 27, 1754, the Parisini family ofGargnano bought land at Pra dela fam, a tiny strip of land along thelake between the mouths of the Piovere and Baès Torrents, where theybuilt their first garden, now cal<strong>le</strong>d the “Old Garden”. In 1850 they addedthe “New Garden”, further south, that covered eight terraces.The two gardens of Pra, together with the one further north cal<strong>le</strong>dÀngerer or Àngher, which was always owned by the Parisini family,produced <strong>le</strong>mons <strong>un</strong>til the early 20 th century. The Old Garden was laterabandoned and in the mid-sixties the Àngher and “New Garden” alsoexperienced periods of crisis.The owners <strong>un</strong>successfully sought alternative solutions. In 1985,the Com<strong>un</strong>ità Montana dell’Alto <strong>Garda</strong> restored 75 plots of the “NewGarden”, planted with about one h<strong>un</strong>dred citrus plants, inclu<strong>di</strong>ng 66<strong>le</strong>mon trees.La limonaia del Pra dela fam è aperta al pubblico tutti i merco<strong>le</strong>dì, dal<strong>le</strong> ore15 al<strong>le</strong> 17; da apri<strong>le</strong> ad ottobre è visitabi<strong>le</strong> anche il sabato dal<strong>le</strong> ore 15 al<strong>le</strong>17 e la domenica dal<strong>le</strong> ore 10 al<strong>le</strong> 12.The Pra dela fam <strong>le</strong>mon house is open to the public every Wednesday, from3:00 to 5:00 p.m. From April to October, it is also open from 3:00 to 5:00p.m. on Saturday and from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on S<strong>un</strong>day.23


24La limonaia <strong>di</strong> Sopìno.The Sopìno <strong>le</strong>mon house.


La limonaia della Nùa.The Nùa <strong>le</strong>mon house.25


La limonaia del TeṡölIl Teṡöl è <strong>un</strong>a località a ridosso del monte Preàls, a cira 2 km dalcentro <strong>di</strong> <strong>Limone</strong>. Accanto allo stipite della porta che dal giar<strong>di</strong>nodei limoni dà nella casa posta a sud, si <strong>le</strong>ggono ancora la data“1740” e la sigla “L.C.V.”.Verso il 1820 la limonaia passò in proprietà dalla famiglia Bertellial conte Giacomo Ferrari; essa era costituita da 107 campi,<strong>di</strong>stribuiti su sei cò<strong>le</strong> per <strong>un</strong>a superficie <strong>di</strong> 1.221 mq; l’acqua eragarantita dal fiüm del Tes . öl, che la lambisce a sud.Al Tes . öl, presso il fratello Giuseppe, occupato come giar<strong>di</strong>niere,nel 1818 arrivò da Gargnano Luigi Comboni; dal suo matrimoniocon Domenica Pace nacque il missionario Danie<strong>le</strong> Comboni(1831-1881), Vescovo e Vicario dell’Africa cen<strong>tra</strong><strong>le</strong>, fondatoredell’Opera del Buon Pastore (1867) e dell’Istituto del<strong>le</strong> Pie Madridella Nigrizia (1872), proclamato Santo il 5 ottobre 2003 da papaGiovanni Paolo II.The Teṡöl <strong>le</strong>mon houseTeṡöl is a town that sits below the Preàls mo<strong>un</strong>tain and is about2 kilometers from downtown <strong>Limone</strong>. The date “1740” and theinitials “L.C.V.” can still be seen next to the jamb of the door<strong>le</strong>a<strong>di</strong>ng from the <strong>le</strong>mon garden to the house.The Bertelli family sold the <strong>le</strong>mon house to Co<strong>un</strong>t Giacomo Ferrariin 1820. The property was composed of 107 campa’ plots,<strong>di</strong>stributed over six cò<strong>le</strong> (terraces) for a total surface area of 1,221square meters. The supply of water was guaranteed by the Tes . ölRiver, to the south.In 1818, Luigi Comboni arrived at Tes . öl, where his brother Giuseppeworked as a gardener. Luigi married Domenica Pace, wholater gave birth to their son Danie<strong>le</strong> (1831-1881), the missionary,bishop and vicar of Cen<strong>tra</strong>l Africa and fo<strong>un</strong>der of the Work of theGood Shepherd (1867) and the Institute of the Pius Mothers ofNigrizia, the Comboni Missionary Sisters (1872). Danie<strong>le</strong> Comboniwas proclaimed a Saint by Pope John Paul II on October 5,2003.26


La limonaia del Teṡöl.The Teṡöl <strong>le</strong>mon house.27


La limonaia del Castèl all’inizio del Novecento.The Castèl <strong>le</strong>mon house in the early 20 th century.28


Veduta aereadella limonaiadel Castèl(2001).Aerial viewof the Castèl<strong>le</strong>mon house (2001).La limonaia del CastèlA nord ovest del centro storico, addossata al<strong>le</strong> rocce della Mughéra,la limonaia del Castèl è oggi solo <strong>un</strong>a parte della grande strutturaproduttiva che, <strong>un</strong> tempo, dalla val<strong>le</strong> della Mura, da via del<strong>le</strong> Pozzee da via Castello gi<strong>un</strong>geva alla val<strong>le</strong>tta della Màndola. Il giar<strong>di</strong>no,che ha <strong>un</strong>a superficie <strong>di</strong> mq 1.633, è <strong>di</strong>viso perpen<strong>di</strong>colarmentein due parti dal cùen dela Marcheṡàna, su cui è costruito il cas .èl principa<strong>le</strong>, a più piani: nella parte meri<strong>di</strong>ona<strong>le</strong>, si estende per<strong>un</strong> <strong>tra</strong>tto su <strong>un</strong>’<strong>un</strong>ica còla, per <strong>un</strong> altro su tre; nella parte a settentrioneè su quattro cò<strong>le</strong>, che confinano verso nord con il valètdel Castèl, su cui è costruito <strong>un</strong> altro piccolo cas . èl.La sua costruzione risa<strong>le</strong> al primo Settecento. È evidente tuttaviache la limonaia ha subìto nel tempo vari rimaneggiamenti. Ladata “15 apri<strong>le</strong> 1786”, ancora visibi<strong>le</strong> in <strong>un</strong> pozzetto <strong>di</strong> raccoltadell’acqua, potrebbe riferirsi alla costruzione o all’adeguamentodel<strong>le</strong> cana<strong>le</strong>tte nel<strong>le</strong> cò<strong>le</strong>. Altri interventi si realizzarono per alzaree spostare dei pilastri, per e<strong>le</strong>vare <strong>le</strong> muraglie e per aumentare lasuperficie <strong>di</strong> calpestìo ed il numero dei piani del cas . èl.Passata dalla famiglia Amadei, ai Bertoni, ai Patuzzi e, nell’Ottocento,ai Girar<strong>di</strong> e ai Polidoro, con atto del 19 giugno 1926 la limonaiafu acquistata da Giuseppe Segala (1889-1975), ritornato a <strong>Limone</strong>dall’America, dopo anni <strong>di</strong> duro lavoro come minatore; nel gennaio1995 è stata acquisita dall’Amminis<strong>tra</strong>zione com<strong>un</strong>a<strong>le</strong>.Tre sono stati gli interventi e<strong>di</strong>lizi attuati: il primo nel 1997 perla costruzione <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong> muro, la sostituzione <strong>di</strong> sparadòs e cantére la pulizia del<strong>le</strong> cò<strong>le</strong>; il secondo nel 1999 per il rifacimento deltetto <strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong> cas . èl; il terzo nel 2002-03, grazie ad <strong>un</strong>o specificocontributo della Regione Lombar<strong>di</strong>a nell’ambito del “Piano <strong>di</strong>sviluppo rura<strong>le</strong> 2000-2006”, per il recupero conservativo <strong>di</strong> duecas . èi e <strong>di</strong> due cò<strong>le</strong>.Il cas . èl cen<strong>tra</strong><strong>le</strong> f<strong>un</strong>ge da col<strong>le</strong>gamento <strong>tra</strong> i terrazzi ed è attrezzatocome centro musea<strong>le</strong>-<strong>di</strong>dattico. In tutte <strong>le</strong> cò<strong>le</strong> ci sonodel<strong>le</strong> cana<strong>le</strong>tte per l’irrigazione del<strong>le</strong> piante; l’acqua provenivadal torrente San Giovanni at<strong>tra</strong>verso la condotta della Calmèta,risa<strong>le</strong>nte al primo Settecento.Nella limonaia, inaugurata il 22 luglio 2004, sono in produzione<strong>un</strong>a settantina <strong>di</strong> agrumi (cedri, limoni, aranci dolci ed amari,chinotti, bergamotti, pompelmi, mandarini e kumquat).29


The Castèl <strong>le</strong>mon houseThe Castèl <strong>le</strong>mon house, which is northwest of the old town centerand stands against the rocky wall of the Mughéra mo<strong>un</strong>tain, isjust a portion of the large <strong>le</strong>mon grove that once stretched fromthe Mura val<strong>le</strong>ys, Via Pozze and Via Castello to the Màndola val<strong>le</strong>y.The garden, which covers an area of 1,633 square meters, is<strong>di</strong>vided perpen<strong>di</strong>cularly into two parts by the cùen dela Marcheṡàna, on which the main cas . èl is built on several <strong>le</strong>vels. It extendsto the south, in part, on a sing<strong>le</strong> terrace and on three in anothersection. To the north it is <strong>di</strong>vided on four cò<strong>le</strong> terraces that borderto the north with the valèt del Castèl, on which another smallcas . èl is built. It was built in the early 18 th century, but has c<strong>le</strong>arly<strong>un</strong>dergone remodeling over the years. The date “April 15, 1786”can still be seen on a water trough, which might refer to the constructionof the structure itself or of the irrigation channels on theterraces. Other projects raised or moved the pillars and increasedthe surface area and the number of <strong>le</strong>vels of the cas . èl. Over theyears, the <strong>le</strong>mon house was owned in turn by the Amadei, Bertoni,Patuzzi, and, in the 19 th century, the Girar<strong>di</strong> and Polidoro families.On J<strong>un</strong>e 19, 1926, Giuseppe Segala (1889-1975) bought it afterreturning from the United States, where he worked as a miner.In January 1995, the city of <strong>Limone</strong> bought the <strong>le</strong>mon house. Ithas <strong>un</strong>dergone renovation three times: during the first project,comp<strong>le</strong>ted in 1997, a wall was built, a sparadòs and cantér werereplaced, and the cò<strong>le</strong> terraces were c<strong>le</strong>aned. During the secondproject in 1999, the roof of a cas . èl was repaired. During thethird, in 2002-2003, two cas . èi and two cò<strong>le</strong> were restored thanksto contributions from the Lombardy Region through the Planof Rural Development 2000-2006. The main cas . èl connects theterraces and serves as a museum and educational center. All thecò<strong>le</strong> terraces have irrigation channels for the trees. The water cameL’interno della limonaia del Castèl (2004).Inside the Castèl <strong>le</strong>mon house (2004).from the San Giovanni Torrent through the Calmèta duct built inthe early 18 th century. The <strong>le</strong>mon house, which was inauguratedon July 22, 2004, has more than seventy citrus trees (citrons,<strong>le</strong>mons, sweet and bitter oranges, chinotto oranges, bergamots,grapefruits, tangerines and kumquats).La limonaia del Castèl è aperta al pubblico da apri<strong>le</strong> ad ottobretutti i giorni, dal<strong>le</strong> ore 10 al<strong>le</strong> 18; per gli altri mesi informazionie prenotazioni al tel. 0365.954008, in orario d’ufficio.The Castèl <strong>le</strong>mon house is open daily to the public, from10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., from April to October. For othermonths or for more information and reservations, p<strong>le</strong>ase call0365-954008 during office hours.30


La limonaia del Castèl (2005).The Castèl <strong>le</strong>mon house (2005).31


Pianta della limonaia del Castèlcon la denominazione del<strong>le</strong> cò<strong>le</strong>.Layout of the Castèl <strong>le</strong>monhouse, with an in<strong>di</strong>cation ofthe various cò<strong>le</strong> terraces.La limonaia del Castèlvista da via Rovina (2005).The Castèl <strong>le</strong>mon houseseen from Via Rovina (2005).32


La limonaia della Garbéra.The Garbéra <strong>le</strong>mon house.33


34La limonaia <strong>di</strong> Reamòl.The Reamòl <strong>le</strong>mon house.


La limonaia <strong>di</strong> Villa Boghi (2006).The Villa Boghi <strong>le</strong>mon house (2006).La limonaia <strong>di</strong> Villa BoghiLa limonaia inserita nel parco <strong>di</strong> Villa Boghi, allo svincolo dell<strong>un</strong>golago dalla Gardesana, è <strong>un</strong>a costruzione del primo Novecento.Consta <strong>di</strong> sette campate, esposte verso sud.I pilastri e i materiali <strong>di</strong> copertura sono nuovi; <strong>le</strong> sette piante <strong>di</strong>limone sono state messe a <strong>di</strong>mora nel 2004.Sul retro del giar<strong>di</strong>no è stata al<strong>le</strong>stita <strong>un</strong>’area espositiva conpannelli <strong>sul</strong>la <strong>storia</strong> e <strong>sul</strong><strong>le</strong> caratteristiche degli agrumi.The Villa Boghi <strong>le</strong>mon houseThe <strong>le</strong>mon house in the garden of Villa Boghi, which is at thej<strong>un</strong>ction of the lakefront bou<strong>le</strong>vard and the Gardesana road, wasbuilt in the early 20 th century. It has seven plots with a southernexposure. The pillars and roofing materials are new, and the seven<strong>le</strong>mon trees were planted in 2004.There is an exhibit area at the back of the garden, with panelsillus<strong>tra</strong>ting the history and characteristics of the citrus fruit.La limonaia <strong>di</strong> Villa Boghi è aperta al pubblico tutti i giorni,dal<strong>le</strong> ore 9 al<strong>le</strong> 21.The Villa Boghi <strong>le</strong>mon house is open to the public daily, from9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.35


36La limonaia <strong>di</strong> Villa Boghi (2006).The Villa Boghi <strong>le</strong>mon house (2006).<strong>Limone</strong> all’inizio del Novecento.<strong>Limone</strong> in the early 20 th century.


Note1V. Forte, Il limone, Bologna 1983, p. 3.2L. Bettoni, L’agricoltura nei contorni del Lago <strong>di</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>, Milano 1877, p. 12.3V. Bertazzoni, Benaco, Mincio, laghi <strong>di</strong> Mantova, in AA. VV., Goethe-Stendhal. Mito eimmagine del lago <strong>di</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>tra</strong> Settecento e Ottocento, Genève 1988, p. 7.4M. Sanuto, Itinerario <strong>di</strong> Marin Sanuto per la terraferma veneziana nell’annoMCCCCLXXXIII, Padova 1847, p. 88.5B. Grattarolo, Storia della Riviera <strong>di</strong> Salò, (ristampa e note a cura <strong>di</strong> P. Belotti, G.liGaSacchi, G. Scarazzini), Salò-Arco 2000, p. 66.6a. Gallo, Le vinti giornate dell’agricoltura et de’ piaceri della villa, Venezia 1584, pp.147-148.7Ibidem, pp. 143-144.8J.W. Goethe, Viaggio in Italia, Torino 1965, p. 76.9L. Bettoni, La coltivazione degli agrumi nella Riviera del lago <strong>di</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>, in “Commentaridell’Ateneo <strong>di</strong> Brescia per l’anno 1877”, Brescia 1877, p. 70.10Accenno a questa <strong>di</strong>rettrice commercia<strong>le</strong> è anche in C. Mozzarelli, G. OlMi (a cura <strong>di</strong>),Il Trentino nel Settecento fra Sacro Romano Impero e antichi stati italiani, Bologna1985, pp. 854-855.11L. Bettoni, Memorie della famiglia Bettoni da Brescia, p. 14.12Sul tema del<strong>le</strong> <strong>limonaie</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> si vedano: F. creScini, Quel che fu e quel che restadei giar<strong>di</strong>ni benacensi, Roma 1965; D. FaVa, I limoni a <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>, Tremosine1985; M. treBeSchi, D. FaVa, <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>. Il territorio, la società, l’economia<strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong> borgo dell’Alto lago, Brescia 1990, pp. 105-111; G. ciGoGnetti, Le <strong>limonaie</strong>, in“Atlante del <strong>Garda</strong>. Uomini, vicende, paesi”, III, Brescia 1992, pp. 107-114; a. cazzani,l. Sarti, Le <strong>limonaie</strong> <strong>di</strong> Gargnano. Una vicenda, <strong>un</strong> paesaggio, Brescia 1992; D.FaVa, M. treBeSchi, I Bettoni e l’agrumicoltura gardesana. Le <strong>limonaie</strong> a <strong>Limone</strong>, inV. zaMBoni (a cura <strong>di</strong>), Carlo Bettoni. Economia e <strong>cultura</strong> nella “Magnifica Patria”del XVIII secolo”, Brescia 1994, pp. 53-93; D. FaVa, Limonaie e limoni a <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong><strong>Garda</strong>, Brescia 2005.13L. IMBriani, Cedri, limoni e lauri del <strong>Garda</strong>, in 8ª settimana velica internaziona<strong>le</strong>del <strong>Garda</strong>. Riva del <strong>Garda</strong> 7-12 luglio 1958, Riva del <strong>Garda</strong> 1958.Si ringraziano:Com<strong>un</strong>ità Montana Parco Alto <strong>Garda</strong> BrescianoProvincia <strong>di</strong> BresciaRegione Lombar<strong>di</strong>aPer i pannelli all’interno della limonaia <strong>di</strong> Villa Boghi:- Com<strong>un</strong>e <strong>di</strong> Riva del <strong>Garda</strong>,Assessorato alla Cultura, Museo Civico;- Provincia Autonoma <strong>di</strong> Trento,Assessorato all’Urbanistica e Ambiente;- Agenzia Provincia<strong>le</strong> per la Protezione dell’Ambiente,Settore Informazione e Qualità dell’Ambiente,Villino Campi Riva del <strong>Garda</strong>;- Museo Tridentino <strong>di</strong> Scienze Naturali;Foto: Domenico Fava, Roberto Veronesi, Rinaldo Codogni, Mauro Pini.Stampa: Grafica 5 - Arco.Footnotes1V. Forte, Il limone, Bologna 1983, page 3.2L. Bettoni, L’agricoltura nei contorni del Lago <strong>di</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>, Milan 1877, page 12.3V. Bertazzoni, Benaco, Mincio, laghi <strong>di</strong> Mantova, in AA. VV., Goethe-Stendhal. Mito eimmagine del lago <strong>di</strong> <strong>Garda</strong> <strong>tra</strong> Settecento e Ottocento, Genève 1988, page 7.4M. Sanuto, Itinerario <strong>di</strong> Marin Sanuto per la terraferma veneziana nell’annoMCCCCLXXXIII, Padova 1847, page 88.5B. Grattarolo, Storia della Riviera <strong>di</strong> Salò, (ristampa e note a cura <strong>di</strong> P. Belotti, G.liGaSacchi, G. Scarazzini), Salò-Arco 2000, page 66.6a. Gallo, Le vinti giornate dell’agricoltura et de’ piaceri della villa, Venezia 1584,pages. 147-148.7Ibidem, pages. 143-144.8J.W. Goethe, Viaggio in Italia, Turin 1965, page 76.9L. Bettoni, La coltivazione degli agrumi nella Riviera del lago <strong>di</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>, in “Commentaridell’Ateneo <strong>di</strong> Brescia per l’anno 1877”, Brescia 1877, p. 70.10Mention of this <strong>tra</strong><strong>di</strong>ng route also appears in C. Mozzarelli, G. OlMi (a cura <strong>di</strong>), Il Trentinonel Settecento fra Sacro Romano Impero e antichi stati italiani, Bologna 1985, pages854-855.11L. Bettoni, Memorie della famiglia Bettoni da Brescia, page 14.12On the topic of <strong>le</strong>mon houses of <strong>Garda</strong>, p<strong>le</strong>ase see: F. creScini, Quel che fu e quel che restadei giar<strong>di</strong>ni benacensi, Rome 1965; D. FaVa, I limoni a <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>, Tremosine1985; M. treBeSchi, D. FaVa, <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong> <strong>Garda</strong>. Il territorio, la società, l’economia<strong>di</strong> <strong>un</strong> borgo dell’Alto lago, Brescia 1990, pages 105-111; G. ciGoGnetti, Le <strong>limonaie</strong>,in “Atlante del <strong>Garda</strong>. Uomini, vicende, paesi”, III, Brescia 1992, pages 107-114; a.cazzani, l. Sarti, Le <strong>limonaie</strong> <strong>di</strong> Gargnano. Una vicenda, <strong>un</strong> paesaggio, Brescia 1992;D. FaVa, M. treBeSchi, I Bettoni e l’agrumicoltura gardesana. Le <strong>limonaie</strong> a <strong>Limone</strong>,in V. zaMBoni (a cura <strong>di</strong>), Carlo Bettoni. Economia e <strong>cultura</strong> nella “Magnifica Patria”del XVIII secolo”, Brescia 1994, pages. 53-93; D. FaVa, Limonaie e limoni a <strong>Limone</strong> <strong>sul</strong><strong>Garda</strong>, Brescia 2005.13L. IMBriani, Cedri, limoni e lauri del <strong>Garda</strong>, in 8ª settimana velica internaziona<strong>le</strong>del <strong>Garda</strong>. Riva del <strong>Garda</strong> 7-12 luglio 1958, Riva del <strong>Garda</strong> 1958.We wish to thank:Com<strong>un</strong>ità Montana Parco Alto <strong>Garda</strong> BrescianoThe Province of BresciaThe Lombardy RegionFor the panels and exhibit <strong>di</strong>splays inside the Villa Boghi <strong>le</strong>mon house:- The Culture Department and Civic Museumof Riva del <strong>Garda</strong>;- The Urban Planning and Environmental Departmentof the Autonomous Province of Trento;- The Provincial Agency for Environmental Protection,the Environmental Information and Quality Sector,and Villino Campi of Riva del <strong>Garda</strong>;- The Tridentino Museum of Natural Science;Photo: Domenico Fava, Roberto Veronesi, Rinaldo Codogni, Mauro Pini.Print: Grafica 5 - Arco.

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