Farnese Gardens

Alessandro Farnese was appointed Cardinal Deacon of the Roman Catholic Church in 1534 at the age of 14, by Paul III, his grandfather, who had been elected to the papacy two months previously.

The garden was divided into the classic style of quadrants with a well or a fountain at its centre, deriving from the design of the Roman peristilium palaces of the area, as re-created by the noted architect Vignola.

Walking paths at the base of the Domus Tiberiana included underground passages and ancient sculptures.

[5] The gardens became popular again in the 18th and 19th centuries as Grand Tour travelers visited Rome.

[4] From the name of these gardens is derived the name of the plant Acacia farnesiana and from its floral essence, the important biochemical farnesol.

1761 engraving by architect Giuseppe Vasi from book 10 of his series of vedute (views) of Rome, showing the Farnese Gardens on the Palatine Hill in Rome at that time. The ground-floor entrance is at right, and the twin domes are above the aviaries on the third floor of the structure.