Paradiso Botanical Archaeological Park

The Paradiso Botanical Archaeological Park occupies a rocky, forested hill on the edge of Chiavenna's old town. What makes it distinctive is the combination of a small archaeological museum, the ruins of a medieval castle, and a botanical garden containing plants native to the Valchiavenna — all within a few acres above the town centre.

The views from the summit of the hill over the confluence of the Mera and Liro rivers, and up both valleys toward Switzerland, are exceptional. On a clear day you can see the Maloja Pass at the head of the valley. The walk up through the gardens takes about fifteen minutes and the site is rarely busy — one of those small municipal gems that local authorities maintain beautifully for the handful of visitors who make the effort.

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A story
The park's name comes from a medieval fortification called the Castrum Paradisi, which stood on this rocky outcrop above town. Archaeological excavation in the twentieth century revealed layers of occupation going back to the Bronze Age — the site was occupied continuously for three thousand years, precisely because its commanding position above the valley made it strategically irresistible to every culture that passed through.

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