Restoration efforts in Rome continue through collaboration between the public and private sectors. The latest project involves the enhancement and revitalization of the Giardino delle Erme, also known as the IV Secret Garden of Villa Borghese, which is now open to the public every day from 8 AM to 7 PM. Completed in just four months thanks to the contribution of the IZI company – which donated 100,000 euros for the purpose, also overseeing the work under the supervision of the Soprintendenza, and upgrading the functional systems – the restoration focused on the fountain, placed in the center of the garden in 1913, made with a Roman basin in Lunense marble from municipal deposits; and on the Esedra dei Draghi, the monumental southern entrance created at the end of the 17th century, designed by Carlo Rainaldi and Tommaso Mattei, featuring the heraldic animals of the Borghese family. Additionally, the project included the revitalization of historic greenery, including citrus trees, antique roses, bulbs, and bitter oranges, as well as the installation of an artistic lighting system.

The Giardino delle Erme, also known as the Giardino della Coltivazione, is part of the complex of “secret gardens” adjacent to the Casino Nobile, which Cardinal Scipione Borghese – nephew of Paul V – began constructing in 1606 as his suburban residence. The cardinal dedicated the various gardens of Villa Pinciana to the display of rare and exotic flowers, which were cultivated precisely in the IV Garden. This intervention is part of a broader recovery plan for Villa Borghese, financed with PNRR Roma Caput Mundi funds, encompassing the entire system of Secret Gardens, the Birdhouse, and the Casino della Meridiana.

Opening image: image taken on the occasion of the exhibition "Louise Bourgeois. Unconscious memories"