The Vatican Gardens: a first-timer's guide

Why go

After the crowds of the Sistine Chapel, the gardens feel like another world. Popes have walked, prayed and received guests here for centuries, and the grounds mix formal Italian parterres, an English style landscape, woodland and small vegetable plots. The dome of St Peter's rises above almost every view, and you get a sense of the Vatican as a real, lived in place rather than a museum.

What you will see

Routes vary, but tours usually include the **Fountain of the Eagle**, the **Fountain of the Sacrament** and the **Casina of Pius IV**, an elegant sixteenth century villa that is home to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. You will also pass the **Grotto of Lourdes**, a replica of the French shrine given to Pope Leo XIII, stretches of the old **Leonine Walls**, the **Vatican Railway Station**, the **Governorate Palace** and the radio tower from which Vatican Radio first broadcast. Gardeners keep flowerbeds in the papal coat of arms.

How to book

Garden tours are sold on the official Vatican Museums website as guided visits. There are walking tours and, at times, open bus tours that suit people with limited mobility. Most garden tickets include entry to the museums and the Sistine Chapel afterwards, so you can combine both in a single day. Tours run in several languages and sell out early in spring and autumn, so book as soon as your dates are firm.

When to go

Spring brings the best flowers and mild weather. Summer afternoons can be very hot, with little shade on parts of the route, so morning tours are kinder. Tours do not run on Sundays or Catholic holidays and can be cancelled for official events or bad weather. Check the museums' calendar for current days.

Practical tips

The usual dress code applies, because you continue into the museums: shoulders and knees covered. The walk includes slopes and some steps. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen in warm months. Toilets are limited during the tour, so use them first. Large bags must be left at the cloakroom. Photography is usually allowed outdoors, but stay with your guide, since much of the area is private and guarded.

Combining your visit

A good plan is a morning garden tour, then the museums and the Sistine Chapel, a late lunch in Prati and an evening stroll to St Peter's Square. Alternatively, pair the Vatican Gardens with the Barberini Gardens at Castel Gandolfo on another day to see both papal gardens. Use the free trip planner to build it in.

A short history

The gardens began in the thirteenth century as an orchard and vineyard, and Renaissance popes added fountains, avenues and the casina. In the twentieth century, after the Lateran Treaty created the modern state, the grounds were reshaped to hold the railway station, the radio station and offices, while keeping their green, wooded heart. Many of the fountains and statues were gifts from Catholic nations around the world, so look out for small shrines and plaques from far away countries.

Who it suits

The gardens are perfect for repeat visitors to Rome, for anyone who finds the museum crowds overwhelming and for keen gardeners and photographers. Young children may find a two hour guided walk long, so plan snacks and breaks.