carrying the One
True Cross laying the grounds for the gardens using the sacred soil from
Mount Calvary. Pious tradition claim that the foundation site of the Vatican Gardens was spread with sacred soil brought from
Mount Calvary by Empress
Helena of Constantinople to symbolically unite the blood of
Jesus Christ with that shed by thousands of
early Christians, who died in the persecutions of
Emperor Nero Caesar Augustus. The gardens date back to medieval times when orchards and vineyards extended to the north of the Papal
Apostolic Palace. In 1279,
Pope Nicholas III (Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, 1277–1280) moved his residence back to the Vatican from the
Lateran Palace and enclosed this area with walls. He planted an orchard
(pomerium), a lawn
(pratellum), and a garden
(viridarium).
Donato Bramante's original design was then split into three new courtyards, Also in
Renaissance style, a great rectangular
Labyrinth, formal in design, set in
boxwood and framed with
Italian stone pines,
(Pinus pinea) and
cedars of Lebanon,
(Cedrus libani). of various stone artifacts in the gardens. The goal of the project has been to prevent the deterioration of the objects of art-historical interest. In October 2017 the professionals involved in the restoration conducted a study to consider, from a scientific point of view, modern methods and eco-sustainable techniques in application to the conservation of the artifacts over time. After a careful study, they opted for non-toxic and environmentally friendly products, such as
oregano (Origanum vulgare) and
thyme (Thymus vulgaris), along with other plant protection products used individually or combined. Today's Vatican Gardens are spread over nearly , they contain a variety of
medieval fortifications, buildings and monuments from the 9th century to the present day, set among vibrant flower beds and topiary, green lawns and a patch of forest. There are a variety of fountains cooling the gardens, sculptures, an artificial
grotto devoted to
Our Lady of Lourdes, and an
Olive tree donated by the
government of Israel. Both the Vatican and Castel Gandalfo gardens became open to the general public in 2014. In 2019, Rafael Tornini, head of the Garden and Environment Service of the
Vatican, announced the gardens had been transitioning to
organic lawn management since 2017. ==Patroness==