Rhyming Camellias — Rhyming Museums at Villa Anelli

A camellia garden turned into a nursery rhyme

In Oggebbio, a small town overlooking the Piedmontese shore of Lake Maggiore in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (Piedmont), the historic garden of Villa Anelli hosts 'Rhyming Camellias', an event designed for children and families as part of the Rhyming Museums series promoted by the Alto Verbano Museum Network. The initiative introduces children to the themes of museums and the local area through rhyming stories and multisensory experiences: the central theme here is the camellia, the iconic flower of this corner of the lake.

Villa Anelli, a historic park among the 'Gardens of Excellence'

The garden of Villa Anelli was established in 1872 by the Milanese notary Carlo Berzio and has been lovingly preserved from generation to generation ever since. Starting in the 1970s, engineer Antonio Sevesi began an extraordinary camellia collection there and founded the Italian Camellia Society. Today, the park is home to hundreds of varieties—Japonica, Reticulata with rare Chinese specimens, Sasanqua, and Vernalis—and is included in the prestigious international list of Gardens of Excellence. Winding paths, stone grottoes, streams, and fountains provide a natural backdrop for the visit.

Target audience

The event is aimed at children, ideally aged 4-10, accompanied by their families. A guided narrative transforms the exploration of the garden into a game of rhymes, images, and small creative activities, allowing the little ones to connect with nature and local culture in a lighthearted and fun way.

Where it takes place

Villa Anelli is located on Via Vittorio Veneto, in the Gonte district of Oggebbio, between Verbania and the Swiss border. The garden opens to the public on selected weekends from April to October, during which time the Rhyming Museums series offers its events dedicated to children across the museums and cultural sites of the Alto Verbano area.