The Rose Garden
The Giardino delle Rose is a place of beauty and history, transformed in 1914 with the addition of numerous roses and an outdoor educational space. A botanical survey in 2007-2008 revealed rare species like Bosea Yervamora and a symbolic Quercus Ilex. The garden also houses architectural elements from the Church of San Francesco di Sales and Punic archaeological remains, along with qanat, ancient Arab aqueducts. Nearby, an orchard and two 19th-century buildings now host a physics lab and a cinema, making the garden a blend of past and present.
The Rose Garden
The Rose Garden is not just a garden, but it is a real treasure full of history and beauty which has
accompanied the life of the students who have attended the Educandato.
The garden gets its name from the transformation it underwent in 1914 thanks to the Headmistress
Erminia Bordiga. She decided to embellish the garden with different types of roses that grew
rapidly creating a space for shade useful for outdoor activities. In springtime, it becomes a garden
full of colorful flowers.
The garden is also an interesting botanical treasure. Thanks to the Orto Botanico of Palermo, all of
the species of the trees were classified in 2007-2008. In the garden, there are
some extremely rare species of plants like Bosea Yervamora and a massive Quercus Ilex. It
was planted by the Headmistress Francesca Traina in 1992 which has become a symbol of strength
and perseverance. The project in collaboration with the Orto Botanico of Palermo also included
creating a botanic garden map as well as an illustrated plaque, which gives the visitors the
opportunity to explore the garden from a different point of view.
The garden is full of history. In
fact, inside, you can find some architectural elements made in sandstone that were originally part of
the Church of San Francesco di Sales.
The history of our garden goes back centuries. In fact, there were many archeological findings
underground from the Punic period. There is also a “qanat”, the ancient Arab water system that was
used to bring water into the park of the Cuba. This was an ancient Arab royal palace. Today it is
known as Corso Calatafimi.
Near the garden there is the citrus grove, which used to be a vegetable garden and a henhouse, that
would give food to the students of the Educandato. It was of vital importance during the Second
World War.Overlooking the garden, you can find two 18th century buildings that were used as rooms for the
ill. Nowadays, in these buildings there is a physics lab with vintage equipment and a cinema.
The Rose Garden is a place where the past meets the present. In this garden, everything tells a
story: take a walk in its paths means
to dive yourself in a world of beauty, an experience that enriches your mind and your soul.
Listen
Audioguides curated by the students of Educandato Statale Maria Adelaide
School Year 2024/2025
School Year 2024/2025
