Un “paradiso” perduto. Il giardino del Quisisana a Castellammare di Stabia (NA) tra conoscenza e restauro

The garden of Quisisana Palace in Castellammare di Stabia is part of the royal hunting site of the socalled Bosco di Quisisana which rises along the northern slopes of Mount Faito, near Naples. The place since the thirteenth century has been appreciated by kings and related courts for its healthy character and for the dominant position on the southern side of the Neapolitan gulf. Acquired by the Ministry of Culture, the Quisisana complex has become a satellite site of the Pompeii Archaeological Park and houses the Archaeological Museum Libero d’Orsi. The management of the park has greatly contributed to the restoration of the Palace and the inclusion of the museum in the tourist circuits that affect the area. Much remains to be done, however, for the park, which has kept the original layout unchanged and preserved most of the ancient furnishings, but is in a state of profound decay that obliterates the signs of the site’s long history and its close relationship with the landscape context of the area.