It just so happens that at the same time as Villa Angiolina was being built, Opatija’s central park was also in the making. This horticultural masterpiece of 3.64 acres is divided into two scenic parts: one that resides next to Villa Angiolina itself and the second part which is next to the Church of Saint James. The gardens simply flourish with approximately 150 different plants, the majority of which come from distant parts of the world such as Japan, China, South America, Australia and other countries.
Ignio Scarpa, who built Villa Angiolina planted these exotic shrubs and trees thanks to his sea-roving sailors who would scatter across the world and return home with new plants. The cedars, sequoias, gingko, palms and oaks are still flourishing today, making this one of Croatia’s most important dendrological collections. Amongst the many interesting plants, there is a Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica), which has with time, become a symbol of Opatija.