Limonaia Pra dela Fam
Historic terraced lemon house on Lake Garda, restored and back in production, with a route devoted to the history of citrus cultivation.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The name Pra dela Fam, “meadow of hunger”, recalls the fishermen and sailors of the 16th century whom contrary winds forced to stop at this point on the shore for days, often without provisions. Citrus cultivation spread on Lake Garda from the 13th century thanks to the Franciscans of Gargnano, and lemon houses, stone and wooden greenhouses designed to protect the plants from the cold, were built in the centuries that followed.
The “old garden” of Tignale dates from 1750, the “new garden” from 1850, abandoned after a few years; in total the area exceeded 5,000 m². The trade in lemons, which were also used to produce citric acid, flourished until Italian unification. Afterwards competition from the South, industrial production of citric acid and a plant disease led to decline.
The Comune di Tignale restored the lemon house in the 1980s and again in 2007 and 2016, putting it back into production according to the traditional techniques of the gardeners. Since 2011 it has been part of the Ecomuseo delle Limonaie del Garda. Today lemons, oranges, kumquats, mandarins and grapefruits grow there, grafted onto bitter orange.
Highlights
- Large stone greenhouse with a wall 3–8 m high, facing south-east
- Eight terraces (còle) with stone pillars and wooden beams
- Winter cover with boards, glazed panels and doors
- Cultivation of lemons, oranges, kumquats, mandarins and grapefruits
- Opportunity to taste the lemon house's products
Permanent exhibition
- La limonaia storica – Visit to the restored greenhouse, with terraces, stone pillars and winter covers, to learn the history and techniques of citrus cultivation on Lake Garda.
- Founded
- 2011
- Operated by
- Comune di Tignale
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The lemon house is located along the Strada Statale Gardesana, in the locality of Porto di Tignale.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The site does not publish fees or information on guided visits; for details you can contact the Ufficio Turismo of Tignale (phone 0365 73354). |
|---|
