Giardino del Guasto, Public garden in San Vitale, Bologna, Italy.
Giardino del Guasto is a public garden in Bologna built on elevated ground with concrete paths, a central paved area, and a fountain that flows over a cement surface. The layout creates different levels that follow the contours of the former palace site, giving the space a distinctive physical character.
The site was once home to Palazzo Bentivoglio, an important noble residence that was destroyed in 1507. Over time, the ruins accumulated to form the elevated terrain that would eventually become the foundation for this garden.
The name Guasto means ruins and reflects its origins on the site of a destroyed palace, making the ground itself part of the story. Today families and children use the paths and spaces regularly, and visitors can sense how the elevated terrain shapes the way people move through and experience the garden.
The garden can be entered through two separate access points, allowing visitors to approach the space from different directions. A local association maintains the grounds and runs activities that help visitors understand and engage with the site.
Below the garden, underground vaulted chambers from the original palace remain and once served as air raid shelters during World War II. These hidden spaces connect the garden's layers to events that shaped the wider city during wartime.
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