Venice, the city on the water par excellence, is also full of wonderful green spaces – even in the historic centre there are more than five hundred gardens. As well as the public parks, there are a series of gardens and orchards belonging to the churches and convents for example, the Garden of the Church of the Redeemer on the Giudecca which has recently been restored, or the cloisters and gardens of San Francesco della Vigna, where the city’s most ancient vineyards can be found. Some of these well-hidden gems are located only a few steps away from the most populous spots – as, for example, right next to the railway station, where the Mystic Garden of the Discalced Carmelites can be found, inspired by the principles of St Teresa of Avila.

A little further from the station can be found a beautiful example of another style of typical Venetian garden, those belonging to the palazzi. Palazzo Soranzo Cappello has a garden full of historical and literary references. Literature is also the main inspiration of the garden of the Foundation Cini, where you can enter the Borges Labyrinth, inspired by the work of the influential Argentinian writer.

There are plenty of gardens whose inspiration and style is more modern, like the Spazio Thetis, which grew out of the re-development of an area of the Arsenal and which now hosts a range of contemporary installations.

Even the grand houses facing onto the Grand Canal contain some wonderful surprises. One only has to think of the garden of the Ca’Rezzonico, inspired by the typical idea of the “palace garden”. Anyone who loves to discover hidden architectural gems can also treat themselves to a break in the café of the Serra dei Giardini, an orangerie in Art Nouveau style, hidden in the green heart of Venice, between the Biennale Gardens and Viale Garibaldi.

1. Giardino Mistico dei Carmelitani Scalzi (The Mystic Garden of the Discalced Carmelites)

The Church of St Mary of Nazareth, which rises right next to the railway station, belongs to the Discalced Carmelite Fathers, a very ancient religious order refounded by St Teresa of Avila during the Counter Reformation. They were then able to purchase a property on the outskirts of Venice, which enabled them to have a very large orchard and garden. The coming of the railway station in the nineteenth century however, led to the loss of a large part of their property, and the orchard fell into disuse. The restoration of the garden, finished in 2015, was inspired by the writings of St Teresa of Avila, who describes in The Interior Castle how the soul passes through seven stages on its journey from darkness towards God. Beginning in the shrubbery, representing the darkness, and finally arriving on the grassy lawn (the ultimate vision of God), passing through the grape vines, the fruit orchard, the vineyard, the vegetable garden and finally the herb garden, symbolising the purification of the soul. The traditional product, Melissa water, made from lemon balm and known for its purifying and cleansing properties, is said to have originated here, even if the modern version is produced inland.

It is necessary to pre-book a visit to this garden, while the shop selling herbal products is open every day except Sunday. Further information: https://www.chiesadegliscalzi.it/ch

2. Ca’ Rezzonico

The garden of Ca’ Rezzonico, home of the Museum of Eighteenth Century Venice since 1936, was recreated in 2002 during the most recent restoration. As there was no evidence from the original plan, the architect Giorgio Bellavitis decided to take his inspiration from the typical structure of the “palace garden”, with geometric flower beds outlined by box hedges, a pergola covered in wisteria and an evocative well head. It has recently been fitted with a child’s play area. The garden is free to visit during the hours the museum is open.

Further information: https://carezzonico.visitmuve.it/

3. Church of St. Francis of the Vine and its vineyard

The monastery complex of San Francesco della Vigna (St. Francis of the Vine) is the home of the oldest vineyard in the city, going back to the 13th century. This place has a particular role in the history of Venice; in the heart of the monastery is a chapel dedicated to St Mark, as according to tradition it was here that the evangelist had a vision of an angel in a dream who greeted him with the words Peace unto you, Mark, my Evangelist – the motto of the Serenissima – and prophesied the foundation of Venice.

The land, the property of the Ziani family, was given to the Order of the Friars Minor in the middle of the 13th century and they established a flourishing monastery there. It grew in size over time and today it is a centre for religious studies; the friars still cultivate a part of the property in collaboration with a winemaking business, and have created a botanical garden which faces the north side of the lagoon. Around the building, the recent plantings of Glera and Malvasia “noble” vines, which were the most common white varieties at the time of the Serenissima, are used for the production of “Harmonia Mundi” sparkling wine. Inside the monastery, you can walk in the peaceful colonnaded cloisters, one of which is shadowed by tall cypress trees.

Further information: https://fratiminoribeniartistici.it/luoghi/san-francesco-della-vigna-venezia / https://www.facebook.com/SanFrancescodellaVignaVenezia

4. Spazio Thetis

Created in 1997 in the northern area of the Arsenal, the Spazio Thetis is a green garden, crossed by pathways which wind between poplars and robinias. This park contains a collection of sculpture and large modern art installations, which blend harmoniously with the greenery. Among these, the Oak Tree of Joseph Beuys stands out. Planted in 2007, at the centre of the park, it is an homage to “7000 Oaks” by the great German master, who planted 7000 oak trees in the town of Kassel, to be a symbol of harmony between man and nature. In a sunlit area of the park is the “Little Bee-Garden”, planned to have plants and flowers which are both favourites of bees and which also enrich local biodiversity.

Further information: https://thetis.it/spazio-thetis/

5. Serra Giardini - The Garden Conservatory

At the end of the lengthy Viale Garibaldi an elegant structure in Art Nouveau Style can be seen. This is the Serra dei Giardini, historically known as the Serra Margherita. Created in 1894 as an iron and glass tepidarium, to protect the palms and the other decorative plants bought for the International Art Exhibition, which first opened in April 1895 at the Castello Gardens. At the time, the Conservatory was varnished white, as were the majority of nineteenth-century conservatories. For more than 100 years the beds of the Conservatory have been used to overwinter plants and as the base for the work of the civic gardeners, until they were abandoned at the end of the nineties. After restoration, undertaken by the Comune of Venice, the Conservatory has regained its original appeal and now has a flower shop with a welcoming café, both run by a social cooperative, and is the home of cultural events and workshops, all dedicated to the natural world.

Further information: https://www.serradeigiardini.org/it/

6. Fondazione Cini and the Borges Labyrinth

On the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, you can visit the attractive spaces of the Fondazione Cini, and especially the garden where the Borges Labyrinth is situated. It contains more than 3200 box plants, less than one metre in height. It is an homage to the famous Argentinian writer, Jorge Luis Borges, and inspired by his story “The garden of forking paths”. It was designed in 2011 by the English architect Randoll Coate. The visit takes about 45 minutes, during which you walk through the labyrinth, following an audio guide which has an original soundtrack composed by Antonio Fresa and played by the Orchestra of the Teatro La Fenice. Further information: https://www.visitcini.com

7. Orto Giardino del Redentore - Orchard Garden of the Redeemer

Travel out to the tranquil island of Giudecca, where, between Thursday and Saturday, you may visit the Hortus Redemptoris – entrance fee payable – also known as the Franciscan Garden of the Church of the Redeemer. It is a magnificent, recently restored location, which was opened to the public for the first time in its centuries-long history in 2024.

For the Franciscan Friars, this medicinal garden has always been a particular treasure, both for its productive capacity and as a place for meditation and prayer. Pathways crossing at right angles divide the beds containing olives, vines, fruit trees, medicinal and culinary plants, inspired by the historical “garden of simples”. Thanks to the restoration, it is also possible to admire the old workshop buildings, made of brick, which are intended to be used for art exhibitions. They are also used for the production of oil and honey. There are also two former meditation chapels, one of which is now a café for visitors. The pergola, covered with vines, climbing roses, wisteria and trumpet vines, has also been restored following the original 17th century design, which reflects the symbolism of the cross.

Further information: https://www.venicegardensfoundation.org/it/hortusredemptoris

8. Palazzo Soranzo-Cappello

Palazzo Soranzo-Cappello is located only a few minutes from the railway station, in the Santa Croce district. The building, of ancient origin, has a renowned garden which has been renovated and restructured many times over the centuries, including the addition of sculptures and architectural features. This beautiful space is hidden from the visitor by the façade of the palace, but it has inspired many literary figures, especially in the nineteenth century. It has been mentioned in such works as “Il Fuoco” by Gabriele d’Annunzio and the famous short story “The Aspern Papers” by Henry James.

Today the garden has been restored according to the design on an eighteenth century engraving and also thanks to the important Notebooks of D’Annunzio, who visited them at the end of the nineteenth century. The entrance court, the two groups of sculptures and the garden itself, divided into four cultivated areas, have been preserved without alteration. The part of the garden which once held the vegetables is divided by the pergola, which now separates the area dedicated to flowers from that dedicated to fruit.

The palazzo belongs to the Ministry of Culture and can be visited on the occasion of a series of special events which are normally held between the spring and early autumn every year.

Further information: https://www.soprintendenzapdve.beniculturali.it/soprintendenza/le-sedi/palazzo-soranzo-cappello-e-il-suo-giardino/

Secret Gardens: Venice and its Sanctuaries of Beauty