A Garden on the Palatine Hill

           This small garden is situated on the Palatine hill, that is the centermost of the seven hills of Rome, capital of Italy. The Palatine is one of the most ancient parts of the city.

 
I saw this ancient garden when I climbed the Palatine hill that is 40 m high. It wasn't easy but I got on the hilltop. Approaching closer to bushes I was looking for a potable water spring and I found a garden next to it.

Later I learned the legend that on the hilltop near this ancient spring there was a cave where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf that kept them alive. Having grown Romulus decided to build a new city on the banks of the river Tiber. This is how "Rome" got its name - from Romulus.

I've seen walls of ancient palaces and houses on Palatine hill and recent excavations show that the original Romans have lived on the Palatine since approximately 1000 BC.

Possible in those times a small garden could have been planted by them. There are fruit trees, bushes, grasses, roses, a pond and a small fountain. I think the Romans used water from a spring for watering the garden.

 

This accurate restoration shows us an ancient garden and the experience of ancient Roman gardeners.