Last updated: October 2024
The Garden Under the Walls, also known as the Garden of the Brothers Giuseppe and Vittorino Fiori, is a green space located in the historic Villanova district of Cagliari, along Viale Regina Elena. Inaugurated on 28 March 2014, the project transformed a long-neglected area beneath the Castello walls into a garden promenade. Closed to the public for many years due to ongoing construction, this green space has been reopened and returned to the city. The garden spans 500 meters in length and covers an area of 6,500 square meters. The total renovation cost was 1.8 million euros. The project focused on preserving the historical significance of the area while ensuring the safety of the Castello walls. The accessible pathway, designed to accommodate people with disabilities, features seven sculptures by renowned Sardinian artist Pinuccio Sciola, adding an artistic dimension to the space. This project successfully blends green spaces, accessibility, and culture (Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 4).
Photo of the park: green spaces and walking path.
Comune di Cagliari. 2014. “Giardino Sotto Le Mura.” Comune Di Cagliari. 2014. https://www.comune.cagliari.it/portale/page/it/giardino_sotto_le_mura?contentId=LGO12348.
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Limited economic opportunities and local livelihoods
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
- Loss of sense of place and identity
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, Ecological restoration of existing green spaces
Project objectives
To reclaim and transform a long-abandoned area (previously a municipal garden used as a construction site) beneath the Castello walls into a functional and accessible green space for public use and recreational activities.
To restore the area while preserving its historical significance, ensuring the safety and integrity of the ancient Castello walls.
To improve local biodiversity by introducing local species, such as carrub trees and ficus and attract wildlife
To provide accessibility by designing the space to accommodate people with disabilities, making the space inclusive for all.
To offer a breath of nature in the heart of the city, providing a much-needed ecological balance
To promote cultural and artistic elements by featuring work from a regional sculptor
(Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 4).
Implementation activities
In 2011, the Municipality of Cagliari began the redevelopment works, after a delay of over eight years caused by technical and bureaucratic problems. The project began with thorough planning and restoration, focusing on evaluating the condition of the Castello walls and preserving their historical significance. Structural reinforcements were made to ensure the safety of the ancient walls, and historical fences were also renovated. The landscaping phase transformed the area into a green promenade by planting trees such as ficus, carob, palms, and, large flowerbeds with local floral essences and small hedges, enhancing biodiversity and creating a welcoming natural environment. Pathways were designed to be fully accessible, including for individuals with disabilities.
Seven sculptures by renowned Sardinian artist Pinuccio Sciola were installed along the promenade, adding a cultural dimension. A refreshment point was also planned to enhance the space's role as a social hub. Additionally, the Castello elevator was renovated to connect the promenade with key landmarks like the Bastione di Saint Remy, improving both accessibility and the integration of the space (Refs. 2 & 4).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The key driver of the project was the municipality of Cagliari, under the leadership of Mayor Massimo Zedda and Urban Planning Councilor Paolo Frau. They were responsible for overseeing the planning, securing funding, and ensuring the project's successful execution, balancing the goals of historical preservation with modern accessibility standards. The municipality also coordinated with artists, contractors, and various stakeholders to bring the garden promenade to life.
However, the initiative itself stemmed from community advocacy, as local residents highlighted the need for intervention, bringing it to the attention of the authorities and suggesting new plans for the space (Refs. 2 & 4).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching)
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Achieved increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Attraction of business and investment
- Achieved attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Achieved increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Achieved protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Comune di Cagliari (2014). Giardino sotto le mura. [Source link];
2.
CagliariPad (2014). "Giardino sotto le mura", inaugurata a Cagliari la passeggiata ai piedi di Castello. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Amisani, G (2014). Apre i battenti il Giardino sotto le mura. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Comune di Cagliari (2014). Inaugurazione Giardino sotto le mura. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Google Reviews (n.d.). Giardino Sotto le Mura "Giardino Fratelli Giuseppe e Vittorino Fiori" - Recensioni. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Comune di Cagliari (2022). Atlante demografico di Cagliari 2022. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link];
Photo of the park: green spaces and walking path.
Comune di Cagliari. 2014. “Giardino Sotto Le Mura.” Comune Di Cagliari. 2014. https://www.comune.cagliari.it/portale/page/it/giardino_sotto_le_mura?contentId=LGO12348.
Photo of the park: green spaces and walking path.
Comune di Cagliari. 2014. “Giardino Sotto Le Mura.” Comune Di Cagliari. 2014. https://www.comune.cagliari.it/portale/page/it/giardino_sotto_le_mura?contentId=LGO12348.
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.