Balio Gardens
| Balio Gardens | |
|---|---|
| Giardino del Balio | |
Balio Gardens parterre | |
Interactive map of Balio Gardens | |
| Type | Public garden |
| Location | Erice, Sicily, Italy |
| Coordinates | 38°2′9.92″N 12°35′22.69″E / 38.0360889°N 12.5896361°E |
| Area | Approximately 6 hectares |
| Elevation | Approximately 750 meters |
| Managed by | Municipality of Erice |
| Status | Open to the public |
| Designation | Member of Grandi Giardini Italiani |
| Website | Official website of Erice |
The Balio Gardens (Giardino del Balio) are public gardens at the summit of Monte Erice in Erice, Sicily.
The gardens take their name from the Bajulo, a magistrate who represented the sovereign authority following the Norman conquest of southern Italy. The Bajulo resided in what is now known as the Balio Towers (Torri del Balio), which also served as a gatehouse to the nearby Castle of Venus (Castello di Venere).
The gardens are sited on 6 hectares of land surrounding the towers, previously used for grazing. At an elevation of approximately 750 metres, they overlook the Strait of Sicily and much of what is now Trapani province.
The Balio Gardens are part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani network.