The “Public Gardens” are an urban park in the city of Cagliari. The Gardens’ surface area extends for about 2 hectares, bordering on the historical neighbourhoods of Villanova-La Vega and Castello.
The land was purchased in 1840 and is an early example of a public park, the oldest in the city and the first one in Sardinia.
The gardens’ layout, as can be seen in the north zone, is of a formal Italian style (six geometrical flowerbeds). On the contrary, the long central axis, is “informal”, with vast spaces just behind the main avenue.
The entrance is adorned with common climbing wisteria plants that in Springtime acquire the blue-violet colour if its flowering clusters. Continuing along the central tree-lined avenue, dedicated to the memory of the victims of the 1943 air-raids, you will find holm oak and jacaranda trees.
The naturalistic importance of the park is undoubtedly linked to the two huge specimens of centuries-old Ficus macrophylla, estimated to be about 140 to 150 years old. These two trees are part of the recollections of the city’s residents, a play area and childhood memory. However, they are not the only century-old specimens in the Gardens.
We can also find a specimen of Honey Locust, dating back approximately 120 to 150 years, different century-old palms of various species (Mexican Blue Palm, Canary Island Date Palm, Chinese Windmill Palm, European Fan Palm) and a century-old carob tree, at the end of the side avenue.
The gardens are home to different species of Mediterranean flora including the Mastic tree, Myrtle, strawberry tree, wild olive and juniper.
In November 2021, the city council of Cagliari requested that the two Ficus and the Honey Locust be included in the list of Monumental Trees protected by the Regional Landscape Plan of Sardinia.
Furthermore, at the end of the tree-lined avenue, the public gardens house the municipal art gallery, formerly the Royal Armoury for the Savoy arsenal, and numerous sculptures. Those worth mentioning include the Fontana dei dormienti, a work by the sculptor Mimmo Paladino, created in 2011. The fountain features sleepers, sculptures with human features, which convey a feeling of suspense, stagnation and of something surreal.
