Venice, Venice Gardens Foundation obtains the concession of the Royal Gardens until 2064

In Venice, the Giardini Reali will remain under concession to Venice Gardens Foundation for 40 years: an agreement was signed today betweenAgenzia del Demanio - Direzione Regionale Veneto and Venice Gardens Foundation extending the term of the concession originally signed in 2014. The new deed extends the term to 50 years, with expiration set for December 31, 2064.

This agreement marks a historic moment: it is in fact the first application in Italy of a recent regulatory change (introduced by Art. 1 paragraph 68 of Law 213/2023, which updated Art. 14 paragraph 2 bis of Presidential Decree. 296/2005) that allows nonprofit institutions, foundations and associations (active in the fields of culture, environment, public safety, health and research) to obtain concessions and leases of state assets for up to 50 years, as long as they ensure their enhancement and accessibility to the public.

The extension of the concession, the foundation notes, vien and considered an important recognition for the work done by Venice Gardens Foundation, which has managed the Royal Gardens since 2014. The site, nestled between St. Mark’s Square and its Basin and surrounded by the Correr Museum, the Imperial Rooms of the Royal Palace, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Marciana Library, had been in gradual decline since the mid-20th century. The decay affected not only the historic greenery but also the architectural structures: the Pavilion built between 1816 and 1817 by Lorenzo Santi, the cast-iron pergola and the ancient drawbridge were in a state of neglect, while incongruous buildings had altered its original harmony.

The turning point came in December 2014, when the State Property Agency and the city of Venice entrusted the Foundation with the task of restoring and enhancing the monumental compendium. The project, carried out thanks to the support of Generali, enabled thephilological restoration of the gardens and their reopening to the public in December 2019. Among the most significant interventions was the restoration of the drawbridge, which re-established the architectural link between the Giardini Reali and the Procuratie Nuove, returning the site to its original function as a green oasis accessible to all.

The restoration involved the collaboration of two leading professionals: landscape architect Paolo Pejrone, in charge of the botanical restoration, and architect Alberto Torsello, responsible for the architectural interventions and renovation of the Greenhouse, which is now destined for artistic, cultural and research activities. The botanical variety of the gardens has been enriched with species from all over the world, recreating a lush and articulate vegetation capable of offering new landscape perspectives.

The daily management and care of the Royal Gardens remains entrusted to the foundation, which operates with its own team of gardeners led by Edoardo Bodi. The approach taken combines ancient knowledge and innovative techniques, ensuring the preservation of the botanical heritage with targeted and sustainable interventions. The same model has been applied to theGarden Garden of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, which was also recently restored and opened to the public for the first time.

Generali’s support was instrumental in the restoration and enhancement of the site. The company, which has historically been present in the Procuratie Vecchie in St. Mark’s Square, promoted the restoration of the Giardini Reali as part of its strategy to protect the historical and artistic heritage. Inside the gardens, The Human Garden Greenhouse chronicles this mission and the link with The Human Safety Net Foundation, housed in the Procuratie Vecchie.

The work done by Venice Gardens Foundation has won prestigious awards: in 2022, the Giardini Reali was awarded “The Most Beautiful Park in Italy,” while in 2023 the Foundation received the European Cultural Heritage Award and the Grand Prix - Europa Nostra Award.

The extension of the concession until 2064 ensures the continuity of the Venice Gardens Foundation’s mission, which will be able to continue the work of protecting and promoting the site. The Giardini Reali, once again a living and welcoming place, is confirmed as a central element of Venice’s history and landscape.

“It is a great joy and a great honor for Venice Gardens Foundation that the Agenzia del Demanio, through the stipulation of this act, continues to place its trust in our Foundation and in our mission of taking care of the Royal Gardens of Venice,” comments President Adele Re Rebaudengo, “a place of rare beauty and symbolic for the city and known worldwide. Thanks to the active commitment and a solid commonality of intentions and values among all the actors involved, professionals, institutions and patrons, the restoration and regeneration, in line with the principles of knowledge, responsibility, sustainability and self-sufficiency, of a botanical and architectural heritage of absolute historical and cultural value not only for the city of Venice but for the whole world has been possible. For more than ten years, our Foundation has been committed in the city of Venice to the restoration and conservation of parks and gardens as well as to the recognition of the founding role that these assets can play in a social and community context: a commitment aimed at reconstructing the transcendent relationship intimately related to nature, on the grounds of affinity, harmony and respect. It is important to remember that, unlike a property, investments in gardens, aimed at their growth and protection (which requires daily interventions as a living being), are not limited to ’maintenance’ but generate over the years a ’new garden’ and thus ’a new value’, not only in terms of economic value, but also in terms of botanical, landscape, cultural and social well-being, creating a very important international interest and network of adherence, visibility and prestige (as in the past the famous ’Italian gardens’).Therefore, the further restoration, care and enhancement interventions that will be undertaken over time turn out to be indispensable for the preservation, enhancement of the value and public enjoyment of this relevant Asset, as well as for the protection of its botanical and landscape heritage. I would like to express special thanks to the Agenzia del Demanio, the Superintendence, the Municipality of Venice, as well as Generali, which supported us in the realization of this project, and finally a heartfelt and profound thanks to the entire team of the Foundation, which has supported me in these years with passion and dedication, in observance of those principles of care and love for what is undertaken.”

Venice, Venice Gardens Foundation obtains the concession of the Royal Gardens until 2064

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