The Vatican Gardens: Rome's Most Exclusive Green Space

The Vatican Gardens cover more than half of Vatican City and are among the most beautiful and least visited spaces in Rome. Stretching across 23 hectares behind St. Peter's Basilica, they have been the private retreat of popes for over 400 years — a place of extraordinary beauty, history and tranquillity in the heart of one of the world's most visited cities.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GARDENS The gardens were first established in the 13th century by Pope Nicholas III, who enclosed a section of the Vatican Hill for his personal use. Over the following centuries, successive popes expanded and transformed the gardens, adding fountains, pavilions, formal Italian gardens, English-style landscaping and a remarkable collection of rare plants.

Today the gardens contain over 300 species of plants from around the world, brought to Rome by missionaries, diplomats and explorers over five centuries. The oldest trees date from the 16th century. The gardens are tended by a team of Vatican gardeners who maintain them to an extraordinary standard.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE GARDENS The Italian Garden is the most formal section — geometric beds of clipped box hedges, rose gardens and ornamental fountains in the Renaissance style. The most photographed section of the gardens, it represents the classical ideal of nature ordered by human intelligence.

The English Garden is a more naturalistic landscape of winding paths, mature trees and informal planting, created in the 19th century. Peaceful and surprisingly wild-feeling for a space in the heart of Rome. The contrast with the formal Italian Garden is striking.

The Fontana dell'Aquilone is a spectacular 17th-century fountain featuring an eagle — the symbol of the Borghese family, whose pope commissioned it — surrounded by elaborate water jets and grotesque masks. One of the most impressive fountains in Rome outside the main tourist circuit.

The Casina Pio IV is a stunning Renaissance villa in the heart of the gardens, built for Pope Pius IV in the 1560s by Pirro Ligorio. Now the seat of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, it is one of the finest examples of Mannerist architecture in Rome. The elaborate stucco decorations on the exterior are extraordinary.

The Helipad — yes, the Vatican has a helipad, used by the Pope for short journeys. It is visible from parts of the garden and adds a surreal modern note to the historic surroundings.

The Vatican Radio Tower, built by Guglielmo Marconi himself in 1931, stands in the gardens. Marconi personally supervised its construction and it remains one of the most historically significant broadcasting installations in the world.

HOW TO VISIT THE VATICAN GARDENS The Vatican Gardens are not open for independent visits — access is only possible on guided tours, which must be booked in advance through the Vatican Museums website.

Walking tours are available for small groups with a guide, lasting approximately 2 hours. This is the most intimate way to experience the gardens and allows you to stop and explore at your own pace.

Open-top bus tours cover the main areas of the gardens in about 1.5 hours. Less intimate but covers more ground and is a good option if you have limited time.

Both options include access to the gardens only — not the Vatican Museums or Sistine Chapel. If you want to combine the gardens with the Museums, book a combined ticket.

• PRACTICAL TIPS FOR VISITING
• Book well in advance — garden tours sell out, especially in spring and early summer when the gardens are at their most beautiful
• Wear comfortable shoes — the paths are uneven in places
• Bring a hat and sunscreen in summer — much of the garden is exposed to the sun
• The gardens are closed on Sundays and on days when the Pope is in residence
• Photography is permitted throughout the gardens
• The best time to visit is spring (April and May) when the roses are in bloom and the temperature is pleasant
• Morning tours are generally better than afternoon tours in summer — the gardens are cooler and the light is better for photography