They say Palermo is home to the largest exotic tree in Europe. I say “they say” because our city has so many places that claim to be the biggest, the oldest, or the most beautiful that I usually end up fact-checking everything twice before believing it.
After Garibaldi’s victory, a public garden was created in Piazza Marina, and trees brought from lands near the Pacific Ocean were planted there. One of them is the magnificent Moreton Bay fig, scientifically known as Ficus macrophylla f. columnaris. It is an extraordinary tree, both elegant and imposing.
What makes it so special are its aerial roots. They grow down from the branches, gradually reaching the ground where they take root and become natural supports for the heavy limbs, allowing the tree to spread even further. These roots flow across the ground like giant flat snakes, and their sheer size is truly impressive.
Giardino Garibaldi isn’t the only place where you can see these remarkable trees. Step just a little away from Palermo’s main streets, and you’ll often come across small squares at road junctions, with benches resting beneath the vast canopies of the same fig trees. Sitting there in the shade is one of the city’s simplest pleasures.