The Royal Gardens (Giardini Reali) are located near Piazza San Marco. The entrance is however hidden between the stalls in front of the back side of San Marco. The garden had been created by Napoleon (Here we go again!) and the young Viceroy Eugenio di Beauharnais. They wanted to use the Procuratie Nuove building as the site of the Royal Palace. The original design started from a garden with geometrically shaped flowerbeds. In 1808, the ancient granaries were demolished, which at that time were being used as barracks. From 1815, a greenhouse and a neoclassical pavilion, the Padiglione del Caffè, were added. In the late 19th century, the iron and cast iron pergola was built. Napoleon certainly messed it all up! In 1920, the Royal Gardens were handed over to the city council and opened to the public. Unfortunately, over time, the garden lost its grandeur.
The Royal Gardens in front of the San Marco bacino (© Venice Gardens Foundation)
The garden is currently reopened (just 2 months ago) and restored to its original state! This includes not only the trees and the plants, but also the pergola, the coffee house, the greenhouse and the drawbridge. Once it greens up this spring, it will be a lovely spot!
2020 Vision of Venice 