Venice’s 500-Year-Old Secret Garden Opens to the Public for the First Time

Travelers can now step back in time and visit one of Venice’s historic “Secret Gardens.”

Located on Venice’s Giudecca Island, the ancient Convent Garden of the Redeemer has officially opened to the public for the first time in its 500-year history. The garden opened late last year following a multi-year renovation of the gardens, church, and greenhouse

The renovation was organized by the city’s Venice Gardens Foundation, a non-profit focused on the preservation of Venetian culture, architecture, and gardens. The foundation documented the multi-year project online, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes preview of the work, including bringing in trees, dirt, and other equipment for the project.

“After renovation work carried out respecting the spirit of the place, through a design that has lasted over time but at the same time looks to the future with conscious, responsible commitment… the convent garden has been opened to visitors for the first time in history,” the foundation wrote on its website.

Travelers can now enter the garden during public visiting hours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The operating hours vary by season, with extended hours of 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the summers from June 1 to Sept. 20. During the winter season, between Nov. 1 and March 31, the hours shorten to 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are required to enter to the garden and are available for purchase on the foundation’s website. Tickets start at €13.50 ($15.69) with the processing fee, but are discounted to €7.50 ($8.72) for residents and children who are 6 to 12 years old. A search by Travel + Leisure confirmed availability for tickets throughout the summer and fall.

Even with tickets, visitors are still encouraged to visit the Venice Gardens Foundation website in advance of their trip and confirm the operating hours. 

Once their tickets are secured, travelers can find the secret garden by taking a water taxi to the Redentore stop. After leaving the boat, head left before turning right after the Church on Calle dei Frati. The entrance door will then be on the left, according to directions posted on the foundation’s Instagram. 

The garden is located alongside Venice’s historic Redentore Convent. The island is also home to art galleries, hotels and hostels, and gorgeous waterfront restaurants. Local experts have called the once-closed gardens a “500-year-old retreat for mind and body” and a “secret garden,” according to a first-person review on Venice Insider.