Farnese Gardens
Encyclopedia
The Farnese Gardens are a garden in Rome
, central Italy
, created in 1550 on the northern portion of Palatine Hill
, by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. They were the first private botanical garden
s in Europe (the first botanical gardens of any kind in Europe being started by Italian universities in the mid-16th century, only a short time before).
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. He is remembered for being an antiquarian who assembled the greatest collection of Roman sculpture assembled in private hands since antiquity. In 1550, when Farnese acquired a northern portion of Palatine hill
(historically the oldest of Rome's seven hills) he had ruins from a Roman palace of Tiberius
at the northwest end of the hill top filled in, and converted to a summer home. The site overlooks the Roman Forum
and is near the Arch of Titus
. He called this Horti Farnesiani (possibly meaning to suggest the hortus conclusus
or "enclosed garden" where Mary conceived Jesus Christ). 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.
Though little of the Farnese Gardens survives today, some remnant structures may be seen.
From the name of these gardens is derived the name of the plant Acacia farnesiana and from its floral essence, the important biochemical farnesol
.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, created in 1550 on the northern portion of Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city...
, by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. They were the first private botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
s in Europe (the first botanical gardens of any kind in Europe being started by Italian universities in the mid-16th century, only a short time before).
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. He is remembered for being an antiquarian who assembled the greatest collection of Roman sculpture assembled in private hands since antiquity. In 1550, when Farnese acquired a northern portion of Palatine hill
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city...
(historically the oldest of Rome's seven hills) he had ruins from a Roman palace of Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
at the northwest end of the hill top filled in, and converted to a summer home. The site overlooks the Roman Forum
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum...
and is near the Arch of Titus
Arch of Titus
The Arch of Titus is a 1st-century honorific arch located on the Via Sacra, Rome, just to the south-east of the Roman Forum. It was constructed in c.82 AD by the Roman Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus' victories, including the Siege of...
. He called this Horti Farnesiani (possibly meaning to suggest the hortus conclusus
Hortus conclusus
Hortus conclusus is a Latin term, meaning literally "enclosed garden". "The word 'garden' is at root the same as the word 'yard'. It means an enclosure", observed Derek Clifford, at the outset of a series of essays on garden design, in which he skirted the conventions of the hortus conclusus...
or "enclosed garden" where Mary conceived Jesus Christ). 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.
Though little of the Farnese Gardens survives today, some remnant structures may be seen.
From the name of these gardens is derived the name of the plant Acacia farnesiana and from its floral essence, the important biochemical farnesol
Farnesol
Farnesol is a natural organic compound which is an acyclic sesquiterpene alcohol found as a colorless liquid. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with oils...
.