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Vatican Gardens: Nature, History, and Faith with Dr. Sara Magister
Sara Magister

Vatican Gardens: Nature, History, and Faith with Dr. Sara Magister

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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

When we think about the Vatican City we immediately think of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. But few know that more than a half of the 44 hectares of the territory of the Vatican State is a massive green space, containing a variety of medieval fortifications, buildings, and monuments dating from the 9th century to the present day. Set among vibrant flower beds and topiary, olive trees, exotic plants, green lawns, and a seven-acre patch of forest, The Vatican Gardens are cheered by a variety of fountains, sculptures of the Virgin Mary, and decorative artificial grottoes.
The Vatican Gardens are not only an amazing private natural and botanical park in the middle of Rome, but also a landscape steeped in history and faith. Their origins date back to ancient Roman times, where a necropolis and a forest full of “monsters” were displayed along the slope of the Vatican Hill. A new functional and formal shape was set up during the Middle Ages when orchards and vineyards extended to the north of the Papal Palace.
But the real Golden Age of The Vatican Gardens was reached in the Renaissance, when the formal re-landscaping here become the model for all later Italian and European gardens, showing how nature dialogues with geometry and the evocative power of water.  Some architectural and artistic gems were built during the Renaissance, such as the amazing ‘little house’ of Pope Pius V. Pope Paul V restored the ancient Roman aqueducts that once brought water from the north so that new monumental fountains could be built here, competing with the elegant fountains of Villa d’Este in Tivoli.
In the past two centuries, the gardens have increased their sacred identity, becoming an important outdoor international sanctuary, as they enshrine more than twenty Marian images venerated worldwide, at the designation of the Pope.
Led by Sara Magister, a local Roman art historian and an official Vatican Museums and Garden guide, this seminar is the perfect opportunity to enjoy both history and nature, in a virtual tour of one of the most amazing private green parks of the smallest independent state in the middle of Rome and Italy.

Sara is an art historian with doctoral degrees in Medieval and Modern Art History and Classical Antiquities. She is the author of a book, published by the Accademia dei Lincei, on the antiquities collection of Pope Julius II and has written various articles in important scholarly journals on the history of Renaissance and Baroque collections. More recently, she had published a book on some of the most famous paintings of Caravaggio in Rome which introduces a new interpretation of the works, based on philological data, and which is changing the way we look at this artist.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
75%
(3)
25%
(1)
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A
Alette F (Amsterdam, NL)
Informative!

She made a lovely and interesting walk in the Vatican Gardens. A real mix of religion, plants and history.

K
Kris Shapar (Stuttgart, DE)
Very interesting

Dr Magister makes even subjects I didn't think I was interested in fascinating and worthwhile. I hope she does many more Conversations, on whatever subjects she chooses.

A
Anonymous (Porto Alegre, BR)

Guest did not leave comment

N
Noel Stillings (Hollywood, US)
Review

Very enlightening behind the scenes look at the Vatican gardens! Great analysis of each section of the Vatican gardens and Dr Magister shows location on map for each section. Each area was explored - the rose garden, rock garden and plants of the Bible section! Also showed how some sections may not aesthetically look good but had significance to the Popes living there. Nice fountains - one had a model of an old ship! Dr Magister did a great job of showing the gardens and explaining the history, can’t wait to go back and see in person!

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
75%
(3)
25%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
A
Alette F (Amsterdam, NL)
Informative!

She made a lovely and interesting walk in the Vatican Gardens. A real mix of religion, plants and history.

K
Kris Shapar (Stuttgart, DE)
Very interesting

Dr Magister makes even subjects I didn't think I was interested in fascinating and worthwhile. I hope she does many more Conversations, on whatever subjects she chooses.

A
Anonymous (Porto Alegre, BR)

Guest did not leave comment

N
Noel Stillings (Hollywood, US)
Review

Very enlightening behind the scenes look at the Vatican gardens! Great analysis of each section of the Vatican gardens and Dr Magister shows location on map for each section. Each area was explored - the rose garden, rock garden and plants of the Bible section! Also showed how some sections may not aesthetically look good but had significance to the Popes living there. Nice fountains - one had a model of an old ship! Dr Magister did a great job of showing the gardens and explaining the history, can’t wait to go back and see in person!