Kildare Dobbs's rich narrative at the beginning of the book prepares the reader for the visual delights which follow The shrines, mementoes of spiritual events, statues, fountains and buildings commissioned by various Popes through the centuries, shine through Linda Kooluris Dobbs photographs and serve to give us avery distinctive and personal insight into one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. - Reckless Gardener
A work of staggering vision and dedication, 27 years in the making, which gives a rare, fascinating and inspiring glimpse of the Vatican's grand gardens. - Bookseller
The atmospheric photographs unfold like a private tour of the grounds. - Amateur Gardening
This magnificent book is a fascinating and inspiring glimpse of the Holy Fathers' refuge through eight centuries of history. Linda's beautiful photographs provide a private photographic tour of "green thoughts in a green shade." - Universe
Twenty-seven years in the making, The Gardens of the Vatican is a private photographic tour of eight centuries of 'green thoughts in a green shade'. The several gardens in the Vatican territory reflect the history of gardens in general. In addition to the Persian-influenced quadrant gardens of the Teuton Cemetery and the Secret garden, adorned with lemon-trees in pots, there are gardens in the Italian, French and English styles.
The book is rich in anecdote and detail: Pope John XXIII liked to ramble along the pathways and chat with the gardeners. His predecessor Pius XII wanted solitude, so the gardeners were obliged to hide. There is a fragment of the Berlin Wall, a Chinese pavilion given by the Catholics of that country, and a gnarled old olive tree transplanted from Gethsemane in the Holy Land.
The Gardens of the Vatican offers a fascinating and inspiring glimpse of a bachelor's refuge, through eight centuries of history.