Underground Gardens of Fresco, California

This was a grand adventure for a day off during the PDC in Southern California, a trip to Fresco to visit the amazing underground gardens. Created by Baldassare Forestiere in the early 1900’s, this 10 acre underground labyrinth was hand dug over 40 years with a pick, shovel and wheelbarrow.

Creating a cool paradise in a hostile arid environment, Forestiere excavated a complex web of underground courtyards with skylights shaded by citrus tree canopies and ancient grape vines dripping with fruit. The shady courtyards are connected by a maze of tunnels and use thermo syphoning to create pleasant microclimates and cooling breezes.

Photos below: Left show tunnels converging on a garden coutyard, and Right a view of the the same underground garden courtyard skylight opening from on top, i.e. from the ground.

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