At the end of the 19th century, the Austro-Hungarian Empire extended far beyond today’s borders, with the empery comprising the area of today’s Trentino and parts of the Veneto.
After the victorious battle of Custoza (1866), the Archduke Albrecht and Duke of Teschen, a Habsburg, commissioned Arco’s nursery garden, to be built in the then winter residence of the imperial court.

Since its creation, the former ducal park has housed various evergreen plants, some of which normally grow in places closer to the equator. Among Arco’s tree population are various North-American coniferous woods, for example the Lawson cypress and the sequoia, as well as plant species from South East Asia and the typical Mediterranean vegetation. There are about 200 plants in the park, in an area of nearly one hectare.

Activities in the former ducal park focus on environmental education, weather monitoring and the observation of the influence of weather on plants, as well as garden maintenance. Arco’s nursery garden is open year-round for visitors.

Admission is possible for free at the following times: from April to September from 8 am to 7 pm and from October to March from 9 am to 4 pm. The park is located in Arco, close by the road that leads to the locality of Laghel.