Ars Botanica: Miramare Castle's Botanical Library Revealed

At Miramare Castle in Trieste, director Andreina Contessa has transformed the historic site and its park over five years, reopening closed areas, restoring the 20th-century wing, the ducal bathroom, and the tower, and creating an orangerie to fulfill Maximilian of Habsburg's unrealized dream. The castle's botanical library, with over 7,000 volumes, forms the core of the exhibition 'Ars Botanica – Giardini di carta,' which connects the living garden to the paper garden. Key discoveries include books belonging to Carlotta, Maximilian's consort, and unique hand-colored copies of botanical illustrations. The exhibition rotates pages every two months to match seasonal blooms. Future projects include a December show on scientific expeditions, particularly the circumnavigation sponsored by Maximilian aboard the Novara, and restoration of the ancient carriage road linking the stables to the railway station. Contessa emphasizes quality over commercial shows, with a new concessionaire to manage exhibitions from September.