Gardens of Vatican City, Private garden on Vatican Hill, Vatican City.
The Gardens of Vatican City are a private garden on Vatican Hill within Vatican City State, covering more than half the total territory of the nation. Stone walls enclose the grounds with their pathways, water features, and small buildings from different centuries.
Nicholas III ordered the creation of orchards and lawns north of the Apostolic Palace in 1279. Later popes gradually expanded the area, adding new plant collections, fountains, and chapels over the centuries.
The name comes from Mons Vaticanus, a hill that stood beyond the walls of ancient Rome. Today the grounds serve as a private retreat for the Pope and host official receptions and prayer services.
Access is by advance booking through the Vatican Museums, and visitors must observe a dress code. Tours follow set routes, and visitors should bring weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes.
The grounds include eighteen Marian images from different nations, among them Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Fatima. This collection links several continents through the devotion to Mary rendered in varied artistic traditions.
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