Giardino degli Aranci

Beside Sermoneta's cathedral, the Giardino degli Aranci occupies a rocky shelf above the Pontine Plain. Its historic name recalls the fruit cultivation that followed its earlier use as the Pomerio, a strip reserved for the town's defence.

Why it matters

The garden is one of the few green spaces within Sermoneta's walls and joins a public garden with the defensive history of the borgo. In the early sixteenth century, the Pomerio was reserved for the army defending Porta Sorda. Later, fruit growing—especially oranges—gave the site its present name.

What to notice

The garden's terracing and retaining walls preserve its relationship to the town's former defences. Orange trees shade the space beside the cathedral, while the edge of the rocky shelf opens toward the Pontine Plain. The garden also connects Piazza Santa Maria with lanes in the upper town.

Context and history

The garden's documented history begins in the early sixteenth century as the Pomerio, associated with the defence of Porta Sorda. As military use faded, the area became cultivated ground; oranges eventually gave it the name Giardino degli Aranci. It remains part of the historic fabric of Sermoneta.