Revived Renaissance gardens open at Wawel Royal Castle
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
20.06.2015 12:19
The only reconstructed Renaissance gardens in Poland have opened at the Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków.
Image courtesy of Wawel Royal Castle. Photo: D. Błażewski
Painstaking archival and archaeological research have led to the latest development at the citadel.
The gardens, which span two terraces, hark back to the golden age of King Sigismund I (reigned 1506-1548).
As a young prince, Sigismund had travelled to the Italian states, bringing back a Florentine architect, Francesco Fiorentino, to Kraków in 1502. Over the ensuing years he set in motion far-reaching changes at Wawel Castle, the chief architect being another Florentine, Bartolomeo Berecci.
Ties with Italy were bolstered in 1518 when King Sigismund married Bona Sforza of the ruling house of the Duchy of Milan, as his second wife.
It was fashionable for Polish noblemen to be educated at Italian universities at that time.
The gardens have been reconstructed to echo the period around 1540. The larger of the two terraces includes several varieties of roses, as well as honeysuckle, peonies, chrysanthemums, snapdragons, and herbs such as thyme, lavender, verbena, basil, and oregano.
There is also a small apple orchard, and two rose-bordered vineyards.
Weather permitting, the gardens will be open every day of the week from 11am to 3 pm, until 30 September, as part of a walking tour through various parts of the citadel. (nh)