Have you noticed how the air seems fresher here in the American Garden? This isn’t just any garden. It’s a unique space within Vatican City. The Gardens of Vatican City informally known as the Vatican Gardens cover more than half of the country.
These gardens are private urban parks owned by the Pope. The American Academy includes organically cultivated gardens. They offer a blend of history, art, and nature.
The story of these gardens stretches back centuries. Tradition says Empress Saint Helena spread sacred soil from Mount Calvary here. This symbolically united the blood of Jesus Christ with early Christians.
In medieval times, orchards and vineyards grew north of the Papal Apostolic Palace. Pope Nicholas III enclosed this area with walls in 1279. He created an orchard a lawn and a garden.
The American Garden, as part of the Vatican Gardens, saw major changes in the 16th century. Pope Julius II commissioned Donato Bramante to redesign the area. Bramante created three new courtyards. These were the Cortili del Belvedere della Biblioteca and della Pigna. A rectangular Labyrinth was also added with boxwood and Italian stone pines.
Interestingly, cedars of Lebanon from these gardens were used for a statue of the Virgin Mary. This statue replaced one destroyed by fire in 1921 and is venerated in the Basilica of Loreto.
Since 2014, a project has been underway to restore stone artifacts in the gardens. Modern eco-sustainable techniques are used. This includes non-toxic products like oregano and thyme.
Today the Vatican Gardens cover nearly 23 hectares. They feature medieval fortifications buildings and monuments from the 9th century to the present. You will also discover vibrant flower beds green lawns and a patch of forest.
Fountains and sculptures dot the landscape. There is also an artificial grotto devoted to Our Lady of Lourdes. An olive tree was donated by the government of Israel.
Pope Pius XI designated Saint Therese of Lisieux as the Patroness of the gardens in 1927. A chapel dedicated to her stands near the Leonine walls.
The Vatican Gardens enshrine eighteen Marian images venerated worldwide. Each image represents a different place of devotion and nation. Each has its own installation date and feast day.
Since 2017 the Vatican Gardens have been transitioning to organic lawn management. This reflects a commitment to environmental sustainability.
The American Academy includes eleven acres of organically cultivated gardens atop the Janiculum Hill. This area has a long history of gardens.
The Academy’s gardens include those around the Villa Aurelia and the Mercedes and Sid R. Bass Garden. The Board of Trustees launched a campaign to restore the gardens in 1986.
The Mercedes and Sid R. Bass Garden recalls the Roman countryside. It occupies the site of a 17th-century vineyard. Defensive walls built in 1642-44 enclose two sides of the garden.
The garden has fruit trees olives and cypresses. You’ll also find a bocce court and benches beneath the trees. There is a flower and vegetable garden surrounded by a bay laurel hedge.
The gardens are maintained with careful and sustainable horticulture practices. They provide beauty inspiration and tranquility. They also support the community kitchen with fresh vegetables and fruit.
So as you wander through the American Garden remember its rich history. Appreciate its beauty and its role in the Vatican City.