Things to do in Venice: Venetian gardens

What are the things to do in Venice? Visiting St. Mark Square (Piazza San Marco), the Doge’s Palace, the Accademia Gallery. Or enjoying the sweet air of the lagoon, as well, through a gondola tour on the Grand Canal. The wonders of this romantic city are endless and well-known. As, for instance, the secret Venetian gardens. Actually, Venice has some unknown treasures, which are there for all to see.

Especially for those who love to observe and go beyond appearances. The lagoon contains a myriad of secret gardens that would transport you to another world. In these places you will feel like in a romantic tale where there’s nothing to worry about. But now the journey begins, let’s go to discover the Venetian gardens.

Venetian gardens in Italy

The secret gardens of Venice are more than 500 and are hidden within the walls of convents and ancient palaces. Some of these green spaces are a symbol of work and wealth, others highlight the prestige of their former owners.

 

There are the Redentore Convent Gardens, nestled on the Giudecca Island, where you can still find a few blackberry plants and a very beautiful mulberry tree, the garden of Palazzo Giustinian-Brandolini d’Adda created in the late 19th century and surrounded by laurels and badgers, the garden of Palazzo Cappello, which bear witness in the 20th century to the love between Eleanor of Use and Gabriele D’Annunzio, a famous Italian writer. Go back to the 20th century, however, to discover royal Papadopoli gardens and Savorgnan gardens.

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Royal gardens Venice

Between St. Mark Square and St. Mark Basin there is an enchanted place. I’m talking about the Royal gardens in Venice, which are approximately 5,500 square-meters wide.

It is a huge park with water basins and important buildings in the surrounding area, as the Correr Museum, the Royal Palace, the Archaeological Museum and the historical Marciana Library. The Royal gardens of Venice were commissioned by Napoleon.

The public park, with its many benches and fragrant avenues, is today the ideal place to rest your mind or to spend a few hours with your friends. To wait for you, at the entrance, there are two majestic palms.

Once you are there, take the chance to smell the scent of laurel oaks, wisteria and oleanders you will meet in your way. But that’s not all: this place will give you a new vision of St. Mark Bell Tower surrounded by trees. This one, among the Venetian gardens, can be visited only in part, as some areas are closed to the public. However, the local registered charity Venice Gardens Foundation has started, in recent times, an important restoration.

In addition to green areas, they are working to retrieve the neoclassical Pavilion of Lorenzo Santi, the Arbor that dates back to the 19th century and the drawbridge. The work should be completed in 2018.

Venice gardens, Italy to visit

Among the Venetian gardens there are the historical ones that mark the passage of different ages and events of the past. They survived to the time, waiting to show the visitors their wonders. Let’s see what are the most important historical gardens.

The Napoleonic Gardens

These Venetian gardens are located between the Riva of 7 Martyrs, Viale Trieste and Via Garibaldi, in the Castello district. They are the greenest area of the old town and were ordered by Napoleon.

For this purpose, churches and convents were torn down. In order to animate the landscape, Napoleon ordered to raise a hill to build a café upon (designed by architect Selva), which was then transformed into the pavilion of the Venice Biennale, the famous art exhibition which takes place every two years. It was the exhibition – from 1895 – to make this green space known to the public.

The exhibition actually takes place partly in the Arsenal rooms and partly along the avenues of this immense park. Walking through the gardens of the Bienniale, you will meet 29 pavilions, each representing a foreign country.

Papadopoli Gardens Venice

If you intend to visit the Venetian gardens, you can start from Papadopoli ones. You will meet them immediately, just crossing the Ponte della Libertà (Freedom Bridge) and arriving at Piazzale Roma. This square delimits the borders of this green oasis. The public garden was planned by the painter Francesco Bagnara in 1834 and was built by demolishing the church of the Holy Cross.

The green area was huge at that time and incorporated courtyards and gardens. This Venice garden today has been resized. However, it is still wonderful, with its flowerbeds, fountains and play areas. Come here and sit on its benches in the shade of holm oaks, cypresses and cedars.

Savorgnan Gardens

Savorgnan Gardens are located near the bridge of the Guglie. These are the secret gardens of Venice. They blossom behind the New Road and can be a pleasant discovery. Once this public park was the residence of the Savorgnan family.

It is approximately 9,500 square-meter garden and has the shape of two rectangles. Once inside, you will find flowerbeds and trees whose layout is not casual and recalls the typical English gardens.

Redentore Convent Gardens

Among the Venetian gardens, the Redentore Convent Gardens (or the Garden of the Capuchin Monastery in Redeemer Church), located on the island of Giudecca is one of the largest in Venice and cannot be missed. This jewel, made of groves and cultivated gardens, is still being cared for by the monks and is bordered to the north by the Redeemer Church and to the south by the lagoon.

The Venetian garden, thanks to the Capuchin monks, still gives its fruits. Here they produce vegetables, oil, honey and aromatic plants that once were used in the old pharmacy.

Remembrance Park in Venice

Remembrance Park runs along the gardens of the Biennale and is also known as the Gardens of Sant’Elena island, as it s located on this island. It is an immense non-enclosed land that offers an amazing view over the lagoon.

Among the secret gardens in Venice, Remembrance Park is the perfect place to relax, walking in the shade of pine trees. This Venetian garden is full of play areas for children and teenagers. My advice? Sit in the shadow of a tree and lose in the beauty of the landscape.

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Garden of Palazzo Cappello

This secret garden in Venice is located near Santa Croce train station. Its entrance is next to Rio San Marin. This green place is a sort of extension of the Cappello Palace; in the center of this Venetian park there is a paved area. Along the promenades you will notice trees with peaches, almonds, plums, cherries, apricots and strawberries.

Look at the grapevines and the jasmine, too: they create a rainbow of colors. This historic garden of Venice was well described in the novels of the writers Gabriele D’Annunzio and Henry James. To be informed about the opening times of the garden, you can check the website Venezia Unica, the official website of Venice.

Venetian gardens: your experience

In this article I let you discover some Venetian gardens, unforgettable green spaces in the heart of the Venetian lagoon. What do you think of visiting them and living a different type of vacation? A magical, adventurous and fairy-tale holiday, discovering the Venetian parks that have been the backdrop to tormented loves and historical events.

Last but not least, you can hire a car with private driver to get to Venetian gardens. In this way you will get there with comfort and serenity, perhaps reading a book about the gardens of Venice. What are you waiting for? Just a click is enough to book your private driver service in Venice. Have you already visited these wonderful parks? Then leave your experience in the comment below.

Book your car or your minivan in Venice to get to the main sights of the town