“This lonely hill was always dear to me, and this hedgerow, which cuts off the view of so much of the last horizon…” It is here, in the garden of the monastery of Santo Stefano, not far from his family home that Giacomo Leopardi set his famous poem “L’Infinito”.
The Orto sul Colle dell’Infinito, a garden on the hill that inspired the poem by the same name composed by Leopardi has been recently renovated under the direction of landscape designer Paolo Pejrone who in his intervention has been able to integrate literary history, gardening tradition, and contemporary interpretation with officinal plants, meadow flowers, fruit trees, and vegetable patches connected by pathways under garden bowers where the poet used to walk two centuries ago. Used for centuries as vegetable patch by the nuns living in the 15th century monastery of Santo Stefano, this is a space historically dedicated to work and to meditative atmospheres typical of a convent. Delimited by the city walls of Recanati, this green area occupies a particular position, both isolated and elevated, appearing as a terrace garden, almost a balcony affording a sweeping view of the Marche hills between the Sibillini mountains and the sea. This is where Leopardi found peace and solitude, where his vision could stretch as far as the eye can see, beyond the plants surrounding the garden, inspiring that sense of infinity he immortalised in his poem. The managing of the project and the care of the Orto have been entrusted to FAI Fondo Ambiente Italiano that has focused its intervention on highlighting the relation between two aspects of the Colle dell’Infinito: on the one hand its landscape, on the other its philosophical and poetical qualities. Guided tours combining time outdoors in the Orto and multimedia projections are available to discover the garden as well as the history, meaning and universal value of this short poem, a masterpiece of Italian culture.
Highlights
Interactive route
The visit to the Orto can be paired with a guided tour “inside” the poem. Immersive and captivating projections, thoughts and words mostly taken from Giacomo Leopardi’s Zibaldone, reveal the history and meaning of L’Infinito.
Centro Nazionale di Studi Leopardiani
Founded in 1937, one century after Leopardi’s death, this national centre dedicated to the study of Giacomo Leopardi’s production, promotes studies and research on the poet and his work. The building, with a rationalistic architecture in continuity with Palazzo Leopardi, contains a historical archive and a library specialised in Leopardi-related publications. This unique institution provides access, through multimedia stations to a selection of documents and records.
Palazzo Leopardi
A monument dedicated to the poet stands in the main square of Recanati, one of the finest of the region, framed by the magnificent Neoclassic Palazzo Comunale building with the medieval Torre del Borgo, seat of MUREC, the Museum of the city of Recanati.
Piazza Giacomo Leopardi
A monument dedicated to the poet stands in the main square of Recanati, one of the finest of the region, framed by the magnificent Neoclassic Palazzo Comunale building with the medieval Torre del Borgo, seat of MUREC, the Museum of the city of Recanati.
"Il passero solitario"
From the cloisters of the old church of Sant’Agostino with its monumental interiors designed by Ferdinando Galli da Bibbiena and marvellous altarpieces, you can spot the 13th century tower made famous in the poem Il passero solitario (The Lonely Sparrow).
Orto sul Colle dell’Infinito – FAI Contacts
Contacts
Telephone:0714604521
Address
Via Monte Tabor 2
62019, Recanati (MC)
FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano
Orto sul Colle dell’Infinito – FAI Opening times and prices
Opening hours
The hours of the Colle dell’Infinito are as follows:
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10:30 am – 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 am – 7:00 pm.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The duration of the visit is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Pricing
Entrance to the Colle dell’Infinito only
- FAI members: free entrance
- Full price: €5
- Reduced (6-18 years): € 3
- Students up to 25 years old: €3
- Residents of the Municipality of Recanati: free entry only on Wednesdays
- Family (2 adults and 2 children 6-18 years old): €14
- Children up to 5 years old, National Trust members, Bienfaiteurs Amis du Louvre members, disabled persons with an accompanying person: free entry
Entrance to the Hill and multimedia route.
The multimedia path tells the genesis and the inspiration of the poet for the lyric l’Infinito. The multimedia route allows a very limited number of admissions due to COVID prevention: online booking is strongly recommended.
- FAI members: free entrance
- Full price: € 8
- Reduced (6-18 years): € 3
- Students up to 25 years: € 5
- Residents of the Municipality of Recanati: free entry only on Wednesdays
- Family (2 adults and 2 children 6-18 years old): € 19
- Children under 5, National Trust members, Bienfaiteurs Amis du Louvre members, disabled persons with an accompanying person: free entry.
For Groups: minimum 20 people (for requests and quotes please fill in the following form form)
Orto sul Colle dell’Infinito – FAI How to get there
Address
Via Monte Tabor 2
62019, Recanati (MC)
Latitude: 43.398043
Longitude: 13.551003
How to arrive by road
From the A14 motorway take the Loreto – Porto Recanati exit. Continue following the signs for Recanati.
How to arrive by train
From Ancona station, take the bus to Recanati, line R.
How to arrive by bus
Scheduled bus departures from Macerata, Ancona and Loreto
Additional directions
The ticket office for the Colle dell’Infinito is located on the first floor of the Centro Nazionale di Studi Leopardiani (Via Monte Tabor 2).
Orto sul Colle dell’Infinito – FAI Services/Accessibility
Services
In the vicinity of the Colle dell'Infinito there are public car parks.
- Guided tours: guided tours are available for groups of at least 20 participants. For further information please fill in the form of FAI
- Tours for schools: guided tours are available for school groups. For information and reservations contact [email protected].
In the Colle dell'Infinito there is the FAI Fondo Ambiente Italiano bookshop.
Free Wi-Fi is available at the site.
In addition to the Orto, it is also possible to visit part of the National Centre for Leopardi Studies, where FAI has set up: a themed bookshop on poetry, with Italian and international texts from antiquity to the present day; a multimedia path that invites you, through immersive projections and engaging experiences, to rediscover the history, meaning and universal value of a few verses, a masterpiece of Italian culture. Along the route, visitors will come across a small recording room where they can record their own reading of L’Infinito and then share it on the web portal specially created by FAI.
Accessibility
Colle dell’Infinito is accessible to people with motor disabilities.
Please note the presence of gravel inside the Garden and climbs with slopes that are not suitable for single disabled visitors without the help of a guide.
Orto sul Colle dell’Infinito – FAI Private events
Orto sul Colle dell’Infinito – FAI Itineraries
You could find the garden in these itineraries
Favorite saving result
Warning!
You've have to sign up or sign in to add this element to your favorites.