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The Vatican Gardens (Latin: Horti Civitatis Vaticanae; Italian: Giardini Vaticani) are exclusively beautiful private gardens and parks from the 16th century in the Vatican City State, located within the territory of Rome. The gardens cover more than half of the country, are owned by the Pope, and are considered the smallest government globally.
Below is our Ultimate Guide to the Vatican Gardens. All provided info and facts info is checked and updated in December 2024.
Let’s start from
Things to Know before Visit the Vatican Gardens
What are the gardens of the Vatican?
Their territory is 23 hectares (57 acres), with the highest point of 60 meters (200 ft) on Vatican Hill. You need to plan your visit since it is possible only by reservation. The gardens are considered the Pope’s private playground, which you can visit by taking the two-hour foot-and-bus tour.
The Vatican Gardens are surrounded by stone walls in the North, South and West.
They were established during the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and there are different fountains and sculptures on the territory of gardens. However, there is no access to the public except special group tours provided by the Vatican. Moreover, there are 16 Marian images revered worldwide at the designation of the Roman Pontiff or the Pope – the owner of the gardens. Besides greenery, sculptures, and fountains, there is the Governor’s Palace and the Radio of the Vatican on the territory of the gardens. You can see the gardens when you climb up the dome of St Peter’s Basilica, from the highest point of Rome.
History of the Vatican Gardens
According to the Pious tradition, the site of the Vatican Gardens was spread with sacred soil taken from Mount Calvary by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Through this sign, she wanted symbolically unite the blood of Jesus Christ with that shed by early Christians, who died because of the persecution of Emperor Nero. The Gardens of the Vatican date back to medieval times when vineyards and orchards were prolonged to the north of the Papal Apostolic Palace.
In 1279, Pope Nicholas III decided to move his residence back to the Vatican from the Lateran Palace, so the area became enclosed by walls
However, at the beginning of the 16th century, the gardens were reconstructed during the pontificate of Pope Julius II. Donato Bramante’s project considered splitting gardens into three new courtyards: the Cortili del Belvedere, the “della Biblioteca,” and the “della Pigna” (Pine Cone) in the Renaissance style.
Moreover, a rectangular Labyrinth set in boxwood and decorated with Italian stone pines and cedars of Lebanon was added to the design of the gardens. Today, the Vatican Gardens contain many medieval buildings and monuments from the 9th century to the present day, including flowers and greenery. Moreover, the gardens’ most notable feature is an artificial grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes (Grotta di Lourdes), a replica of the Lourdes Grotto located in France, and an olive tree donated by the government of Israel.
Tours to the Vatican Gardens (updated: December 2024)
The Vatican offers tours to its gardens, where most are in English and take place in the morning. Usually, the tour time is between 8:30 am, and 9:30 am. Read about my experience with the Group Tour to the Vatican Gardens.
- Vatican website: https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home
- Full ticket: from 37 euros
- Reduced ticket: from 24 euros
- Tour days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Duration: 2 hours
- Type of tour: bus tour
- Languages: Italian, English, German, French, Spanish. Other languages are available upon written request at: tours.musei@scv.va
- Note: the guided tour is not available for wheelchair users and is not recommended for visitors with limited mobility because of the type of standard route
- Tel.: +39 06 69883145; +39 06 69884676
Interesting Facts about the Vatican Gardens
- The House of the Gardener, located on the territory of the Vatican Gardens, is the most miniature building in the Vatican. This tiny house was built in 1776 and has just one room. It was originally used by the gardener to store his tools.
- At the end of the guided tour of the Vatican Gardens, visitors have open access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. This means you can explore the art and history of Vatican City after a peaceful stroll through the gardens.
- The Radio of the Vatican, located on the territory of the Vatican Gardens, broadcasted in 45 languages worldwide and was created by Marconi in 1931. This radio station is still in operation today and is one of the most important Catholic media outlets in the world.
- Vatican City, with its Gardens, is recognized as a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site since it is the only site encompassing a whole country. This means that the Vatican City, with all its historical and cultural treasures, is protected as a whole entity.
- The present structure of the gardens is attributed to Pope Julius II, but further works were carried out under the Popes Clemens VII and Paul III. They designed the “secret garden” within the Vatican Gardens. This secluded area was used as a private retreat for the popes.
- Pope Paul IV commissioned the construction of a small palace surrounded by lush vegetation. It is known as “Casina di Pio IV” (The little house of Pio IV) and is home to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. This beautiful building is a hidden gem in the Vatican Gardens.
- Another garden with radiating pathways is in front of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and is bordered by geometrical hedges. It is known as “Giardino dei Semplici” and is used for the growing of medicinal herbs. This garden is a peaceful retreat for those interested in the healing properties of plants.
- Water to the fountains inside the Vatican Gardens comes from the Trajan Aqueduct from Bracciano Lake, which was renovated in the 1600s by Pope Paul IV. This aqueduct still supplies water to the Vatican City today, ensuring the fountains and gardens are always lush and green.
- Throughout history, different animals lived in the gardens, such as goats, deers, and gazelle. These animals were kept in a special section of the gardens called the “Zoo Garden.” Today, there are no animals living in the Vatican Gardens.
- The Vatican Gardens are very well seen from the dome of St Peter’s Basilica. Climbing to the top of the dome is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of the gardens and the rest of the Vatican City.
Watch our vlog about the Eternal City and private tour to St Peter’s Basilica, Square, and instructions on how to climb up the dome! You can book this tour here. Discover a breathtaking view of the gardens from the dome of the Basilica in our video.
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