Museo Bicknell
Museo Bicknell
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles58 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
23
Average
7
Poor
2
Terrible
0

Jackie S
Argyll, Scotland227 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2015 • Couples
This private museum, which is more for specialists, naturalists, botanists, and researchers, is off the beaten museum track. Our hotel arranged our visit and the charming curator - who didn't speak English but helped us understand the museum nevertheless - showed us round.

Towards the end of the 19th and into the 20th century, Clarence Bicknell, an Anglican vicar in Bordighera, became known as a dedicated amateur naturalist and archaeologist who recorded his botanical research in meticulous drawings and archived his archaeological searches into Ligurian prehistory. He filled his personally designed, Romanesque-style villa with his library, superb butterfly collection, vellum bound books of botanical drawings, and display cases of archaeological finds.

His villa was made into the first museum in Liguria after his death in 1918 and is now a botanical research centre. Bicknell planted a wisteria at the front of his house which now covers the whole of the porticoed villa and creates a marvellous purple display. He also planted a fig tree in his courtyard which has become famous in itself for its size and grandeur.

This little-known museum is a fascinating example of what one talented man can create and encourage in a specific field, but it is also interesting as a charming contrast to the well-visited, well-funded museums we all know. An obscure corner in a small town, but well worth the effort.
Written September 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

impavidus
London, UK363 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2015 • Solo
This is a fascinating testament to the times when Bordighera had a resident British population of nearly 3000 souls. Bicknell ammassed a collection of books and other artifacts in a purpose built hall that was also used for concerts. The imposing ficus tree outside (of which there are several in the town) is amazing and has literally swallowed the iron gate. On the minus side, with so many cuts the collection and the grounds now looks neglected. Visitors are few and far between and opening times are erratic. Ask at the neighbouring institute and do not trust information on official websites as access is now reliant on the goodwill of volunteers, some of whom cycle all the way to neighbouring Ventimiglia to keep the venue open. Finally don't forget as other reviewers mentioned too, that the collection is located down a small alleway and therefore easily missed.
Written September 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Beverley73
Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy169 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2018 • Couples
We really enjoyed our visit today. We knew nothing about this extraordinary man. We opted for a talk -€3 per person - and fortunately our delightful guide spoke slowly and our Italian was good enough to understand just about everything. Bicknell painted watercolours, was a botanist,archaeologist, expert in prehistoric rock engravings, writer - and in his earlier life a vicar. He collected thousands of butterflies, plants and flowers and wrote in detail about his findings with exquisite illustrations.

You step back in time here and can enjoy seeing the fruits of his work in this lovely peaceful museum.

The video is recommended- it is in a number of languages.

The fig tree in the gardens has to be seen to be believed.

Perfect way to spend a freezing cold snowy February Monday in Bordighera and also one of the few things open to see in the area on a Monday. I think there are concerts here in the summer too. Highly recommended.
Written February 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dalmunzie
Liguria, Italy277 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2017 • Friends
Clarence Bicknell was a British scientist who left various legacies in Bordighera. This museum takes the visitor back in time!
Written April 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Clare A
Oxford, UK92 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2014 • Friends
This is a splendid library and museum, and the Ficus outside is amazing. However, because of limitations of cash, it is not open as often as the guide books say and it would be good to check if you have to make a special journey (ie other than walking to it from Bordighera). It's lovely to see such care of the collection and building and I hope this will continue even in the present difficult financial circumstances.
Written October 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LSWinDorset
Dorset26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2013 • Couples
The best 2 Euros you will spend if you like books, botany, history, and culture. Very good curators (in Italian or French) show you around a small library with a very important collection on Ligurian natural history, botany, geology and much more. You can come back and read at the library during opening hours and there are a few books for sale. Run by the University of Genova and closes for lunch.
Written July 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ghulsebos
Breda, The Netherlands20 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2018 • Family
Clarence Bicknell was a clergyman but stopped after 3 postings , thinking that the Church did more wrong than good.
He settled in Bordighera and became a self made explorer/scientist.
The museum houses his collection of butterflies, paintings, pictures,books and photographs. The museum guides speak good English and tell the tale of the man ,his work and the region. All in all quite interesting!
Written July 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kurt c
Copenhagen, Denmark105 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Couples
This small museum is certainly worth a visit. Very interesting Butterfly collection, and a fine italian guide. She really did showed us around in a good way, without much english, but with a lot of hand language.
Written September 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alex M
London, UK101 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2015 • Couples
This museum is almost opposite the now closed Villa Regina Margherita, and completely hidden from view. At the entrance to the museum (having followed the small road down the hill) there is an enormous Ficus tree with massive roots. This has already strangled the original entrance gate and also has a couple of palm trees growing through it! The museum is an attractive little building, mainly full of books with a few display cases. Some of Clarence Bicknell's drawings are on display, amongst other things. .
Written July 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christopher B
London, UK86 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2013 • Couples
Well worth popping in here for an hour's guided tour while exploring this charming town. Fronted by massive ficus trees, this fascinating building and collection is a memorial to the life and work of Clarence Bicknell, 19 century British botanist and archaeologist, one of the celebrated residents of the town in its heyday.
Written October 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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