Milis, Pernis Vacca Citrus Garden

Pernis Vacca Citrus Garden. Photo by Angela Nieddu, 2025, from Catalogo BBCC

The Villa Pernis Vacca complex, built towards the end of the 19th century, is located in the southern part of the town of Milis. The area, initially intended for nurseries and vegetable cultivation, was purchased by the Pernis family, who moved to Milis to found a plant for breeding English horses and for the reproduction of the Anglo-Arab-Sardinian breed through the import of thoroughbreds from England. The complex is characterized by a large “L” -shaped building and a large garden. The construction work was completed in a few years, approximately between 1901 and 1905. In this same period, a model citrus grove was planted and the construction of the garden began, which includes specimens that are still present, such as the two specimens of araucaria and a magnolia grandiflora. In 1926 the property was purchased by the Vacca di Milis family. Mr. Cosimo Vacca allocated most of the land to nursery, orchard and citrus groves and preserved many species planted by the Pernis family. During the Second World War, the villa was temporarily requisitioned for military use. In 1949, the Vacca family returned to live permanently in the villa and stayed there until 1977. During this period, the citrus cultivation activity was consolidated. The citrus grove represented the most durable part of the property for a long time, remaining a distinctive feature even in the following decades. Subsequently, after years of neglect, the villa and part of the garden were acquired by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and in 2000 by the Municipality of Milis, which began its recovery, first of part of the villa and with a recent intervention of the entire garden. The garden has an irregular shape and has a main entrance through a gate located along Via San Paolo. The area is divided into quadrants, separated by a central avenue that crosses the garden in a longitudinal direction, connecting the body of the former stables with the gate. The quadrants are distinguished by the variety of plant species present and can be grouped, based on common characteristics, into three main green areas. The first, consisting of the portion in front of the villa, retains its original layout and is configured as a small forest fenced by low walls with a landscape vocation inspired by a romantic taste, for this reason renamed Romantic Garden. In the center of the area there is a bomb shelter dating back to the Second World War and along the fence wall there are two octagonal turrets. Within this space, it should be noted the presence of a monumental araucaria tree. The second space consists of the citrus grove. Of particular interest is the presence of a wall pierced with lowered arches, a remnant of the ancient raised path built during the period when the villa was an important center for horse breeding and which crossed the entire garden. As an ideal reminder of this historic walkway, a new path has been created, underlined by the presence of two steel pergolas. The third space includes a meadow area and tree species, including both pre-existing specimens and new plants.

Interesting aspects
The garden has a varied but harmonious composition. The clear division into quadrants gives order to the whole and, at the same time, characterizes and completes the compositional structure. The Romantic Garden is a small forest lush with large trees. The citrus grove is located on the south side of the villa. Inside there is a complex, called Su Stabilimentu consisting of the stable and a building characterized by the Art Nouveau architectural style.