The development of these gardens began in 2003 by Giovanni Salvatelli, an Italian from the Ancona area in the Marche region, who fell in love with Romania and transformed this place into a wonderful tourist attraction named after his granddaughter, Zoe.

Since 2018, I Giardini di Zoe has become a recognized tourist attraction and has gained popularity through the harmonious blend of plants and decorative elements brought from Italy. Vases, columns, and fountains made from natural materials such as travertine and volcanic stone (Peperino), along with cast iron objects purchased from antique shops, create a fairytale-like setting.

Giovanni Salvatelli created this garden without specialized help and without a fully developed initial plan, expanding it gradually over the years. In 2010, with the completion of the nursery, the project began to take shape. Salvatelli is self-taught in garden design and handled everything himself. He carefully chose the placement of each plant and monitored its growth, achieving a perfect symmetry that gives the garden a grand and elegant atmosphere.

The garden in Banpotoc has become an impressive tourist attraction, frequently visited by both tourists and professional photographers, who can take advantage of hundreds of angles to capture spectacular images.

Although the garden already appears perfect, Giovanni Salvatelli still has plans for further development. In the coming years, the garden will be expanded, offering new beautiful areas to explore. Through dedication and hard work, this place has become “a corner of paradise.”

Thanks to its privileged location in the heart of the Apuseni Mountains, I Giardini di Zoe is also an ideal starting point for hiking and nature walks. Visitors can explore nearby mountain trails that offer spectacular panoramas and a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Nearby is also the Grădiștea Muncelului – Cioclovina Natural Park, a protected area of national interest that includes numerous caves, gorges, and karst formations.