Jardí Botànic Tropical Pinya de Rosa

Jardí Botànic Tropical Pinya de Rosa is a botanical garden covering more than fifty hectares along the Costa Brava coastline in Blanes, in the province of Girona. Today the site is covered in plants gathered from nearly every continent, yet as recently as the mid-20th century it was a barren, dry stretch of land above the sea.

Who created the garden and where does its name come from?

The story begins in 1945, when the land was purchased by Fernando Riviere de Caralt, an industrial engineer with a lifelong passion for botany. Over the following decades he transformed the barren slopes, largely through his own effort and resources, into an intricate landscape of terraces, ponds, water reservoirs and scenic walkways overlooking the Mediterranean. He sourced plants from private collections, botanical gardens and field expeditions, gradually assembling one of the richest collections of succulents in Europe.

What can visitors see in the garden?

The garden's main draw is its remarkable collection of cacti and other succulent plants — thousands of species and varieties gathered from different climate zones around the world, from the deserts of North America to the arid regions of Africa and South America. Alongside the cacti, tropical and subtropical plants also thrive here, benefiting from the mild Mediterranean microclimate of this stretch of coast.

The garden's layout follows the natural terrain, with paths winding up and down the slopes, passing artificial water reservoirs, viewpoints over the bay, and shaded corners where plants have developed over decades with minimal human intervention.

Why does the name Riviere appear in plant names?

Fernando Riviere de Caralt's dedication to the world of succulent botany was recognized by scientists who discovered and classified new species. In honor of his contribution, several taxa were named after him, including Leucostele rivierei, Opuntia rivieriana and Aloe rivierei — plants that carry his name as a lasting mark of the work he put into building the collection.

How does the garden fit into the Blanes landscape?

Blanes sits at the meeting point of the Costa Brava and the Costa del Maresme, and the town is also known for its other, older botanical garden, Marimurtra, founded earlier by German businessman Carl Faust. Although the two gardens were created independently of one another, together they form a green complex above the sea that is unusual on a regional scale, combining plant collections from around the world with views over the Mediterranean.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Pinya de Rosa and when? The garden was founded by Fernando Riviere de Caralt in 1945, when he purchased a barren plot of land by the sea and spent years turning it into an extensive botanical garden.

What is the garden's main attraction? Its collection of cacti and other succulent plants, comprising thousands of species and varieties gathered from different climate zones around the world.

Do any plant names reference the founder? Yes — several species, such as Leucostele rivierei and Opuntia rivieriana, bear the name Riviere in recognition of his contribution to the collection.

How large is the garden? The garden extends over more than fifty hectares along the coast in Blanes.

Is there another similar garden in Blanes? Yes, nearby stands the older Marimurtra botanical garden, founded by Carl Faust — together the two sites form a unique green stretch above the Costa Brava.