The Park
The park is the heartof the estateat Villa Talon,with its farmat Argelato
The monumental park that surrounds Villa Talon at Volta Reno, in Argelato, consists of more than 25 acres of land, and is the most complete and delightful example remaining today on the Bolognese plain, of the ancient tradition of the country garden farm. The park lay at the centre of the farm, with its fields bordered by rows of poplars that formed impressive festoons.
Among its plantings, the park still has a great many trees that are hundreds of years old and have reached impressive heights, with broad lawns facing the two main façades of the Villa, framing a breathtaking scene.
The west lawn, was originally the location of the kitchen-garden, and the vast Serraglio Lawn (over 10 acres along the eastern façade of the palace, bear tangible witness to the rich agricultural history and noble past of the family.
Evidence ofthe family’s abidingpassion for horseracing
During the late 19th century and until a few years ago, the vast parks that surrounded the Villa were paddocks for the family’s racehorses. This activity, deeply rooted in the tradition of the Talon Sampieri family, made the “Volta Breed” a respected name among the top breeders of racehorses in Italy and abroad. It should come as no surprise that the colours of its racing stable are among the oldest in Europe.
Commemorating this long tradition, a memorial post was installed in the northwestern section of the park to mark the burial place of Tarantella, an exceptional mare who, in the early 20th century, made racing history in Italy with the incredible record of 50 consecutive wins.
Vast outdoor spacesfor large events
The park is a unique and essential aspect of the timeless charm of Villa Talon, but it offers a wide variety of other opportunities as well. Nature welcomes visitors and guest of the villa with tree-lined driveways, hedges and lawns rolling over the sinuous landscape. Here, time seems to have stopped, plunging all those who enter it into an atmosphere of tranquil serenity.
But nature is more than a lovely frame. The lawns that surround the Villa do not merely ensure the maximum flexibility in organizing events at the Villa, but make available delightful outdoor spaces that are perfect for events of every kind, even when large crowds are involved. Every autumn, for example, Villa Talon hosts a traditional fox hunt – identical in every way to those held in England, but bloodless –, in which horsemen and women, dogs and enthusiasts from all over participate, making the event a fixed engagement every year.
The great lawns in front of the two façades of the Villa are perfect for luncheons, dinners and outdoor events.
The vastPrato Serraglio lawn
The Prato Serraglio lawn, which lies to the east with respect to the Villa, with over 375,000 square feet, is even larger than the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, offering sufficient space for any type of outdoor event. Rectangular in shape, it is enclosed by a double hedge that frames it and creates a broad path around the perimeter.
The more intimatespace of Prato del Pozzo (the Well Lawn)
Prato del Pozzo is protected by the elegant, imposing internal façade of the Villa, and surrounded by the park, open to the west, offering an intimate, secluded atmosphere. It starts a short distance from the entrance and extends for over 300 yards into the park, following the gentle, irregular curves formed by hedges, trees and bushes. It is ideal for banquets out of doors, with no limit on the number of guests, or events that can alternate indoor and outdoor buffets.
The old paddock area
When it comes to parking, initially this was located in a vast grassy area like the paddock. Now the new parking area is enclosed by a tall hedge, and located just a five-minute walk from the Villa. This makes it possible to limit any visual and audible disturbance caused by vehicles, maintaining the tranquil harmony of the place and events hosted at the Villa.
