What’s Inside, History & How to Visit
The Vatican Gardens (Giardini Vaticani) cover 23 hectares — roughly half the total area of Vatican City — on the hill behind St. Peter’s Basilica. They are the private gardens of the Pope and are not open for independent self-guided visits; access is only via a guided tour (walking or bus) or an audio guide tour booked in advance. The Gardens contain formal Italian and English landscape sections, fountains, a replica of the Lourdes grotto, a helipad, the Vatican Radio tower, and views of St. Peter’s dome from the rear that are among the most photographed images of the Basilica. Tours run Monday to Saturday; closed Wednesday mornings.
The Vatican Gardens are one of Rome’s least-visited significant spaces — not because they are inaccessible, but because they require advance booking and a guided tour format that many independent travellers skip. For those who do visit, they offer a complete change of scale and atmosphere from the crowded museum galleries: an outdoor green space of considerable beauty, intimate historical detail, and the best rear views of St. Peter’s dome anywhere in Rome.
This informational guide covers what the Gardens contain, their history, the different tour formats, and what to expect on a visit. For ticket booking, see our Vatican Gardens tour page.
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The Vatican Gardens contain: formal Italian geometric gardens (hedges, topiary, and flower beds in the tradition of Italian Renaissance garden design); an English landscape garden section with informal plantings; the Fountain of the Eagle (17th century, designed by Jan van Santen for Pope Paul V); the Fountain of the Galley (a lead galleon fountain that shoots water from its cannons); a replica of the Lourdes grotto built for Pope Leo XIII; the Ethiopian College building; the Vatican Radio transmitter tower (designed by Guglielmo Marconi); a helipad; and the rear facade and dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, visible from the garden path in a view that is architecturally more complete than any view from St. Peter’s Square.
The most photographed view of St. Peter’s Basilica is from inside the Vatican Gardens — a path on the north side of the hill from which Michelangelo’s dome is visible rising above the rear of the Basilica, without the distortion introduced by the nave extension (added by Carlo Maderno in 1607) that obscures the dome from St. Peter’s Square. From the Gardens, the dome is seen as Michelangelo designed it: rising clean from the drum above the Basilica’s rear elevation. This view is one of the primary reasons to take a Vatican Gardens tour.
The Vatican Gardens contain approximately 20 fountains of various periods. The Fountain of the Eagle (1612, by Jan van Santen) is the largest — a complex hydraulic system that produces a powerful jet from the spread wings of a bronze eagle, the heraldic symbol of the Borghese family (Pope Paul V was Camillo Borghese). The Fountain of the Galley is a delightful curiosity: a lead model of a Renaissance galley that shoots water from its cannons and rigging — installed in 1620 for Paul V.
Pope Leo XIII had a replica of the Lourdes grotto constructed in the Vatican Gardens in 1902, following the 1858 apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes. The replica is approximately full-scale and contains a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in the rocky niche. It is a place of private prayer used by Vatican residents and is included on guided garden tours.
The Vatican Gardens occupy the Mons Vaticanus — the hill on which, according to tradition, St. Peter was martyred and buried, and around which the Basilica and the entire Vatican complex subsequently grew. The gardens’ upper sections contain remnants of the medieval Vatican fortifications, the Leonine Wall (built by Pope Leo IV in 846–852 AD after Arab raids on Old St. Peter’s), and the foundations of earlier structures. The English landscape section in the northern part of the hill was laid out in the 19th century; the formal Italian sections date from the 16th and 17th centuries.
| Tour Type | Duration | Format | Price (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking guided tour | 2 hours | Small group, licensed guide | from €40 add-on to Museums ticket |
| Open-top bus tour | 1.5 hours | Commentary via headset, seated | from €40 add-on to Museums ticket |
| Audio guide tour | 2 hours | Self-paced with audio device | from €32 add-on to Museums ticket |
| Private guided tour | 2–3 hours | Dedicated guide, flexible route | from €150+ per group |
The Vatican Gardens are only accessible via one of these tour formats — booked in advance either through the official Vatican Museums site or via GetYourGuide and Tiqets. They cannot be visited independently. For current prices and availability, see our Vatican Gardens tour page.
| Day | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday – Saturday | 9:00am – 6:00pm | Last tour entry approximately 4:00pm |
| Wednesday mornings | Closed | Papal Audience; Gardens open Wednesday afternoons |
| Sunday | Closed (except last Sunday of month) | Last Sunday of month: limited access |
The Vatican Gardens and Vatican Museums are separate experiences. Many visitors to Rome choose one or the other. The Gardens are the better choice for visitors who: want outdoor green space, prefer a quieter experience than the crowded Museums galleries, are interested in garden history and landscape design, or specifically want the rear view of St. Peter’s dome. The Museums are the better choice for visitors who: want to see the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms, are focused on art history, or have limited time. A combined Vatican Museums + Gardens visit is a long full day. For a combined booking, see our Vatican Gardens tour page.
No — the Vatican Gardens are not open for independent self-guided visits. Access is only via a booked guided tour (walking or bus) or an audio guide tour. All formats require advance booking.
The Vatican Gardens cover 23 hectares — approximately half the total area of Vatican City State (44 hectares). They occupy the hill behind St. Peter’s Basilica.
The best view of Michelangelo’s dome is from inside the Vatican Gardens — a path on the north side of the hill where the dome rises above the rear elevation of the Basilica, unobstructed by the nave extension that hides the dome from St. Peter’s Square. This view is accessible only via a Vatican Gardens tour.
No — access to the Vatican Gardens requires a separate tour booking in addition to a Vatican Museums ticket. The Gardens are not part of the standard Museums entry. See our Vatican Gardens tour page for current options.
Generally no — the Vatican Gardens are closed on Sundays except the last Sunday of the month, when limited access may be available. They are also closed on Wednesday mornings due to the Papal Audience.
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