If you have a holiday planned in southern Dalmatia, the arboretum in the village of Trsteno should not escape your attention. It's a pleasant refreshment on a hot summer day, as the arboretum has quite a lot of shade thanks to its mature vegetation. As a pregnant traveler with an advanced bump, I was very grateful for that. Moreover, you can combine your visit to the arboretum with a pleasant refreshment – don't forget your swimsuit. Once the mature and lush vegetation of the arboretum has sufficiently tired you out, you can swim in the sea directly below the park. A path down the stairs leads to a small bay with a waterfall. You won't find a pebble beach here, but flat rocks or a large concrete pier will suffice for a refreshing dip. And don't forget mosquito repellent, it will come in handy.
Gardens from Game of Thrones
If you are a fan of the Game of Thrones series, you will surely be pleased to know that the arboretum appears in the series as the Red Keep gardens in King’s Landing.
What interesting plants you will find
So what will you see in the arboretum? Already in the square in the village of Trsteno, you will be greeted by two mature plane trees that you cannot miss. They have been growing here for over 400 years. Thanks to being planted by a spring, they could grow to impressive sizes – the trunk circumference is approximately 12 meters. As for the arboretum itself, you will see trees, palms, shrubs, and other plants from all over the world. When the park was founded, sailors were reportedly tasked with bringing seedlings from their travels around the world. And so today you can see eucalyptus from Australia, ginkgo from South America, cacti from Mexico, calla lilies from Ethiopia, Japanese roses, date palms from Arabia, carob trees from the Eastern Mediterranean, and many other interesting plants. The entire plant collection of the arboretum includes over 300 species and cultivars. The oldest plant collection is located near the aqueduct and includes Lebanese cedar, Himalayan cypress, ginkgo, American linden, Asian plane trees, and others.
Devastating Fires
In recent years, however, the park has been hit by two devastating fires. Unfortunately, during the second one in 2000, a significant part of the park, a total of 15 hectares, burned to ashes. Renovation is still ongoing, but there is still plenty to see. Fortunately, the oldest historical part of the park was spared from both fires.
What else can you see there
Also very photogenic is the Baroque fountain with Neptune and nymphs, which connects to the aqueduct. Near the summer residence, there is the small church of St. Jerome, and among the farm buildings, you can see an old mill with an old olive press.
And then there is also the summer residence of the noble Gučetić-Gozze family, who came from nearby Dubrovnik. Unfortunately, the original castle was not preserved due to the earthquake in 1667; the current summer residence was built in its place. At one time, cultural and social life (not only) of the Dubrovnik elite was concentrated here. Today, in the summer palace, you will find photographs of the park from the early 20th century (and also public toilets). It was the Gučetić family who built the park at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. More than 500 years have passed since its creation.
