In recent months, we have presented many places in Genoa less known to tourists, for those who want to visit the city from our tourist port of Genoa and always see something new and different. We have talked, for example, about the tour of the forts of Genoa, the Castello d’Albertis, the street art of the Certosa district and the monumental cemetery of Staglieno. Today, we want to present something even more unusual, something that you wouldn’t actually expect to find in this seaside city: we’re talking about fallow deer, animals simply unmistakable for their spotted coat. And yes, there are indeed fallow deer in Genoa, where they can be admired by adults and children alike: we’re talking about the Historic Park of Villa Duchessa di Galliera, a destination much loved by Genoese and little or not at all known to tourists!

The Historic Park of Villa Duchessa di Galliera

The Park of Villa Duchessa di Galliera holds several surprises. And indeed, it is anything but small: it measures 32 hectares in total, with 18 kilometers of avenues. Here you can find a charming Italian garden, a jewel-box theater from 1785, a castle, caves, small waterfalls, groves, olive trees, a sanctuary on the hill and, last but not least, an area surrounded by fences where Tibetan goats and fallow deer graze. It is therefore a very rich park, which develops around a Genoese noble villa, which can be visited freely and free of charge.

The history of Villa Duchessa di Galliera Park

The history of the Park and the villa as we can see them today begins in 1675, when the building was purchased by Giovanni Francesco Brignole Sale: work on its expansion began immediately, to reach what was once called Villa Grande. In the following years, the Brignole Sale family had the formal garden, the staircase, the terraces, the historic theater, and the “Lion” grove built. The Park and Villa are named after the Duchess of Galliera, Maria Brignole Sale De Ferrari, who lived between 1811 and 1889. A great philanthropist, she stimulated the creation of the first museums in Genoa, as well as leading to the foundation of the Galliera Hospital. Extremely wealthy but unfortunate, she had two children who died at a young age, while a third decided to renounce his surname and inheritance, embracing the cause of the French Revolution. For this reason, the duchess decided to leave the Park as a legacy to the Brignole Sale Charitable Trust. Currently, a large part of the Park is owned by the Municipality of Genoa.

Fallow deer in Genoa

As mentioned, there are many attractions in Villa Duchessa di Galliera Park, already famous in the 19th century for its citrus fruits and camellias. In addition to the garden, the coolness of the park, the villa, and the sanctuary, visitors are attracted by the fallow deer enclosure, a large meadow available to these docile ungulates that over the years have completely become accustomed to human presence, to the point of being perfectly willing to “graze” grass from children’s hands.

How to get to Villa Duchessa di Galliera from Genoa

Those who moor their vessel in our boat berths in Genoa can easily reach Villa Duchessa di Galliera Park using public transport. After leaving the tourist port, a 10-minute walk is sufficient to reach Genoa Piazza Principe station, from where you can take the train on the Genoa – Ventimiglia line: about 25 minutes later you will get off at Genoa Voltri station, with just an urban ticket. From there to the park entrance, it’s a 500-meter walk.