In the functional division of accessible green areas, the orchard represents the first connection to the theme of the medieval garden that inspired us for creating an enjoyable and educational green space. The orchard will be located in the first space accessible from the access ramp towards the Rocca's gate. The area will be arranged to make it accessible to everyone through an entrance represented by a wooden portal and gate. The vegetable plots will be constructed in raised wooden boxes with a height of about 40 cm, allowing them to be easily accessed while standing or sitting, including for individuals in wheelchairs.
From this area, by climbing a stone staircase, visitors will enter the next space designed with medieval-inspired green themes: the "Orto dei Semplici" (Garden of Simples). This area is the first one encountered after passing through the first entrance in the walls of the Rocca, currently dedicated to temporary medieval installations.
This approximately 466 m2 extension will be divided into functional environments equipped with setups intended to be accessible to all and suitable for providing a wide range of educational and tourist activities for visitors, with special attention to children aged 3 to 12 years. Horticulture and educational gardening activities will take place here. The vegetable plots will be created above ground in wooden boxes, 40 cm high, where plants that had a culinary purpose in the medieval context will be cultivated. The accessible site and activities will be facilitated by a stabilized pavement, allowing everyone to reach the planting level of the crops while seated in a wheelchair or standing.
The cultivation level will feature a trellis of bitter oranges or bergamots (Citrus aurantium), preferably of local origin, protected from cold north winds by leaning them against the stone wall. The trellis, also cultivated in wooden boxes, will be about 1.80 m wide and will have Bergamot Mint (Mentha citrata) planted at the base. Adjacent to this area, there will be another raised flower bed, lower than the one containing bergamots, where perennial herbaceous and shrubby plants such as artichokes (Cynara scolymus), prostrate rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis var. prostratus), and a reblooming pink rose (Rosa sp. Var Les Quatre Saison) will be cultivated.
In the center of the area, six boxes, each approximately 18 m2 in size, will be created. Raised and divided into two equivalent portions, one portion will be used to plant an old local variety of fruit tree, such as the Limoncella apple variety, Rosa apple variety, Muso di Bue apple variety, Briaca pear variety, and the Monteleone pear variety. At the entrance, a vineyard will be replicated with two plants of Field Maple (Acer campestre) married with Vitis (Vitis vinifera) for table grapes, including varieties like "Pizzutello nero," "Moscato," and "Cardinale." This area will be enclosed with Rose bushes (Rosa spp.), featuring spreading White Knock Out® Radwhite varieties to act as a frame.
In the flower bed adjacent to the fruit tree, the cultivation of vegetables will take place, such as: