Royal Gardens

ROYAL GARDENS OF VENICE

Giardini Reali are a green space located right behind Piazza San Marco, overlooking the lagoon. They are not very large, but they are one of the few true “gardens” in the historic center of Venice.

They did not always exist: they were created at the beginning of the 19th century when Napoleon Bonaparte decided to transform the San Marco area. During that time, the Procuratie Nuove became the Royal Palace, and an elegant garden was needed for the residence.

Before that, the area was occupied by buildings used as warehouses, such as grain storage.

Under Austrian rule, the gardens were further improved: a greenhouse, an elegant café, and a direct connection to the palace via a bridge were added, allowing the royal family to access them easily.

For a period, the gardens were not open to the public and were reserved for the court. Only in the early 20th century (around 1920) did they become fully public.

Over time, they fell into some neglect, but in recent years they have been completely restored and reopened (around 2019–2020), returning to their former beauty.

Today, they offer a peaceful place to walk, with plants, pergolas, and beautiful views over the lagoon—one of the few green corners in central Venice.