What if these gardens could talk? The Giardini Napoleonici whisper tales of Venice’s transformation. These gardens offer a green escape right in Venice. They stand as the city’s largest green space in the historic center.
Originally, this land was marshland. Napoleon Bonaparte ordered it drained in the early 19th century. His vision? A public garden gracing the banks of the Bacino di San Marco.
Giannantonio Selva designed the gardens. Work spanned from 1808 to 1812. To make way for green space churches and convents were demolished. San Domenico, San Nicolò di Castello, and Sant’Antonio vanished. The rubble wasn’t wasted. It fortified the ground. A small hill emerged. It became home to a café. Bricks paved the nearby canal of Sant’Anna creating Via Eugenia. It’s now known as Via Garibaldi. Pietro Antonio Zorzi chose the plants but Venice’s climate posed challenges.
The Giardini Napoleonici opened to the public on August 20 1810. Later in the 19th century the gardens were divided. The Biennale art exhibition claimed a portion. The Pro Arte pavilion emerged in 1894. About 42000 square meters became dedicated to art. The remaining 18000 square meters stayed a public garden.
Today the Giardini host 29 national pavilions. These pavilions showcase art during the Venice Biennale. Some pavilions are architectural gems. Josef Hoffmann designed Austria’s pavilion. Gerrit Thomas Rietveld created the Dutch pavilion. Alvar Aalto designed Finland’s pavilion.
Take a stroll along the central path. Branching paths reveal diverse architectural styles. Each pavilion bears its nation’s name. Consider the Central Pavilion formerly Palazzo Pro Arte. Enrico Trevisanato designed it. Mario de Maria and Bartholomeo Bezzi added its facade in 1895. Guido Cirilli revamped the facade in 1914. Duilio Torres redesigned the facade when it became the Italian Pavilion in 1932. Carlo Scarpa designed the Sculpture Garden within the pavilion in 1952. Valeriano Pastor designed the Pastore auditorium in 1977.
Many monuments dot the Giardini Napoleonici. Most reside near the San Marco basin. Spot the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi by Augusto Benvenuti from 1885. Find the monument to Francesco Querini an explorer who died attempting to reach the North Pole. Achille Tamburlini created it in 1905. Don’t miss the monument to Pier Luigi Penzo an aviator by Francesco Scarpabolla from 1932. Admire the monument to Riccardo Selvatico the mayor who championed the Biennale. Pietro Canonica created it and it was unveiled in 1903. Reflect at the monument to soldiers of land and sea by Augusto Benvenuti. It commemorates their aid during the 1882 flood. Initially in Campo San Biagio it moved here after the 1951 flood. Remember Richard Wagner the composer. Fritz Schaper created his monument in 1908. Note the monument to Giosuè Carducci by Annibale De Lotto from 1912. Finally find the monument to the Partigiana by Augusto Murer with a base by Carlo Scarpa.
The Giardini Napoleonici stand as a testament to Venice’s evolving identity. They blend nature art and history. Take a moment to breathe. Soak in the atmosphere. Consider the layers of history beneath your feet. These gardens connect Venice’s past and present.