Open Gardens in Bologna

For the last six years a number of private gardens in Bologna have opened to the public for one weekend in May. The event occurred this weekend, and people turned out through sun, and rain.

This was the only vegetable garden that we saw.

In the winter people used to put snow down this hole to make an ice house, which could be accessed from the cellar.

The word ‘garden’ was taken quite loosely. A few were similar to English gardens with lawn (or area of short, green vegetation) paths and flowers. Others were a rectangle of green jungle, and some just a space with a few plants dotted around.

The washing had been left out rather optimistically

Large houses (palazzos) line the city streets here. Mostly divided into apartments, the residents share the space behind the building. These can only be accessed by passing through the building. Enclosed by high walls, each garden was an oasis of calm. Usually with a mass of vegetation, they are cool in the summer months (when it apparently gets hot).