Renaissance Gardens in Northern Italy: archaeobotanical evidence for urban environment reconstructions

Archaeobotanical analyses have been carried out on three gardens in Northern Italy that belonged to the important Renaissance families of Este and Gonzaga: the “Duchesses’ Garden” of the Ducal Palace of Ferrara, the garden of Te Palace of Mantua and the green spaces of Giardino Palace of Sabbioneta. Pollen and macroremains from the three sites were studied to ensure a reliable reconstruction of the gardens. At Ferrara, seeds/fruits collected from a discharging pit of the Este Ducal Palace were particularly useful for describing the flora of the garden and the plant landscape of the city1. All the botanical evidences (more than 200 taxa including ornamental plants), integrated to the few historical and iconographic sources, have provided detailed information for reconstructing the features of the garden and the surrounding urban environment between the 15th and 16th century AD2. At Mantua and Sabbioneta, the on-going archaeobotanical studies from the Gonzaga’s palaces give interesting information that enhance the historical data. The preliminary results3 show, for example, the presence of Citrus in pollen spectra from both the sites; this pollen is very rare in archaeological deposits, and confirms the presence of the renowned citrus collection in the Gonzaga’s gardens. Archaeobotanical records from the three urban contexts examined are characterized by the recurring presence of evergreen plants (especially Buxus), which are best suited for the topiary art. These plants have good relationship with the maintenance of the harmony of the garden and does not take account of seasonal variations.