On the upper platform of the Barco Borghese, in Monte Porzio Catone, the 16th–17th century orchard of the Borghese family lives again: an hortus conclusus of ancient fruit trees above two hundred Roman vaulted chambers.
The Barco Borghese is a single complex with two perfectly complementary souls: the archaeological one — the largest known complex of Roman vaulted substructures, some two hundred chambers — and the 16th–17th century one, the upper-platform garden, the Pope's Orchard.
The interplay between "below" and "above", from "darkness" to "light", is the great fascination of the full visit.
History
The islands of ancient fruits, the archaeological sector of the substructures and the signature gardens.
Apricot of Monte Porzio, sour cherry, sorb, azarole, quince, mulberry: the traditional, now-forgotten species of the territory.
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The Roman labyrinth of vaulted chambers and the future Museum of Roman building techniques.
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The green theatre, the hanging gardens, the flowering meadow, the rose-clad berceaux.
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Fruit trees
Rose varieties
Hydrangea varieties
Climbing shrubs on the berceaux
m² of sown lawn
The intervention stems from the Ministry of Culture's call "Programmes to enhance the identity of places: historic parks and gardens" (Next Generation EU – NRRP), promoted by IRVIT, the Regional Institute of the Tusculan Villas.
Restoration of Vasanzio's fountain, recovery of the central axis, a chemical-free agro-ecosystem: a garden that is also a biodiversity laboratory.
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Recent images from the orchard's recovery.
