Forestiere Underground Gardens

Forestiere Underground Gardens Located at 5021 West Shaw Avenue in Fresno, California are an unusual manmade creation built by Baldasare Forestiere, an immigrant from Sicily, over a period of 40 years from 1906 to until his death in 1946. The gardens, while subterranean, have many skylights and catchbasins for water. There is a wide variety of hybrids and grafted trees, and the underground temperature helps guard against frost. It is operated by members of the Forestiere family through the Forestiere Historical Center, and can be considered a spectacular and unconventional example of vernacular architecture.

For a fictionalized account of Forestiere and his lonely obsession, see the short story "The Underground Gardens" by T. Coraghessan Boyle, published in The New Yorker, (May 25, 1998).

See also

  • Hermit House, a unique residence located in Herzliya, Israel with intricate mosaics entirely constructed by one man over thirty years.
  • Watts Towers in Los Angeles, a collection of 17 interconnected structures, built by Italian immigrant Sabato ("Sam" or "Simon") Rodia
  • Nitt Witt Ridge a house in Cambria, California constructed in a similar style.
  • Ferdinand Cheval, a french postman who constructed an "ideal palace" out of rocks in his spare time.
  • House on the Rock Alex Jordan,Jr. constructed "Japanese House" atop rock pinnacle in Spring Green, WI.

References

External links

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Tish Trotter
23 April 2013
One of California's secret treasures! The underground gardens are a masterpiece! It's like an adults version of a treehouse but underground. True craftsmanship & history displayed here. A must see.
Daniel Dick
29 March 2010
The underground gardens are not only beautiful, but they have a sad but beautiful story behind them where a man dug the garden to show his love for lady who did not return his love.
Krishona Cross
26 May 2013
Worth the $15...go now before the city starts building the "super rail" unfortunately it will be built above the gardens and parking will be hard. A must see though...almost haunting.
Erin
6 June 2014
Well worth the tour especially on a hot day!
Lina
24 April 2014
Amazing love it can't wait I go again. So much fun
Jana Whitlock
10 October 2013
Great tour guide cool place
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4823 West Shaw Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722, USA Get directions
Fri 5:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sat 5:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sun 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Mon 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Tue 1:00 PM–2:00 PM
Wed 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

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