The Vallombrosa Center is a great choice for groups looking for a peaceful atmosphere to gather and ponder. Trees from all over the world adorn Vallombrosa.
The ten-acre land where the Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park is situated was formerly the residence of E.W. Mark Hopkins' nephew, Hopkins. The Old Mansion, the Hopkins residence, was constructed before the Civil War. It began as a straightforward timber building that was later enlarged and embellished with distinctly Italianate features.
Trees from all over the world adorn Vallombrosa. The largest of its kind in the region is a Chinese-originated gingko tree that is situated in front of the Old Mansion.
Its name was influenced by the trees and the way the sun and shadow played off one another throughout the grounds.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco bought Vallombrosa in 1947 to operate as a retreat center for women.
The Vallombrosa Center hosts special programs all year long to commemorate the liturgical seasons.