Turns out to be one of the more very interesting places here! Over 40 years, Baldasare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant, dug an underground home to help escape our summer heat. Fresno soil, although very rich for agriculture, has a layer of hardpan about 2 feet down. Hardpan is very hard, very dry soil several feet thick that must be broken up for the planting of trees. When Forestiere started in the 1920's, the technology to break up the hardpan did not exist, other than by hand. Working in irrigation for local farmers, in his off hours he began digging. He dug for 40 years, first a humble underground home, then expanding with ever more rooms. He had a vision of a resort, but due to his death, this did not pan out.
Being Italian, arches were everywhere for doors and corridors. As a Catholic, recurring theme of 3's (holy trinity) and 7's (6 days of creation and 1 day of rest) are throughout.
At his death, his 80 acres was divided between his brothers, as he was not married and had not children. His brother Guiseppe chose the 10 acres that included this home, and built on it. Guiseppe's children pursued National Historic Monument status so it would continue, and continue to hold it as a private. The oldest is now 90 and continues to work on the property, watering each of the plants.
The Underground Gardens is by guided tour only. Adults are $17, seniors (60 and older) $15, children are $8. Our tour guide, Lauren, was so enthusiastic about the property, very knowledgeable, and brought everything to life for us!
Sadly, I did not get a good picture of Forestiereš¢.
He really was an amazing man!
Of note, photos are allowed, but only for personal use.
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| Guiseppe's son Ric- He has the same birthday (not year, though:-)) as me! |
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| the entry was |
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| Cody and I in the ballroom. The ceiling was built in Italy, taken apart, and reassembled here in Fresno. |
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| Cody and I in the corridors. |
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| His well for a water source. The well was dug 30 feet down for all the water he needed. Today, you must dig down 230 feet to reach water. |
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| Cody with the well in the background |
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| Throughout the complex are courtyards with skylights. Trees and other plants grow in raised planters and receive sun from the skylight. |
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| Cody and I in the main courtyard |
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| the walls and ceilings use old metals- reebar, barbed wire, and metal strips as reinforcement |
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| Forestiere was 5 foot 6, so we all had to crouch down. See the arches! |
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| Many of the skylights have various types of covers |
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| Courtyard off his living area |
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| refrigerator |
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| stove |
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| table |
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| fireplace- provided heat in winter |
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| Winter bedroom! No windows |
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| Summer bedroom with a large window to the courtyard |
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| bathing tub. He used a gray water system |
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| This was very interesting. This is a tiny window that looks out on the entry so he could see who was at the door! |
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| In later years, he built this entry for cars! |
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| Forestiere was a farmer at heart- this fruit tree is grafted with 7 different fruits! The tree is so large, he built a walkway around this courtyard so he could reach the fruit. |
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| Our guide Lauren! So enthusiastic! |
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| Forestiere's original tools |
