Medicinal garden – Monastery of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere | Roma, Italy

Orto officinale del Monastero di Santa Cecilia

The Monastery of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, located in the heart of Rome, is a remarkable example of cultural, historical, and spiritual heritage. Built on the ruins of the house of Saint Cecilia, a 3rd-century Christian martyr and patron saint of music, the monastery has preserved its centuries-old tradition of care and hospitality. Inhabited by a community of Benedictine nuns since 1527, the monastery features extraordinary architectural and artistic works by masters such as Pietro Cavallini, Stefano Maderno, Sebastiano Conca, and Luigi Vanvitelli. At the heart of the monastery’s life is its herbal garden, one of three gardens within the complex, alongside the cloister garden and the citrus grove. Here, the Benedictine nuns still cultivate a variety of aromatic and medicinal plants such as lavender, mint, rosemary, sage, and poppy. In the past, these herbs were used in the monastery’s apothecary, which operated until 1936, producing remedies based on monastic traditions. Today, the garden continues to support the production of handmade items—soaps, scented sachets, essential oils, and preserves—keeping alive centuries-old knowledge of healing plants. The herbal garden remains a living expression of the monastery’s legacy, connecting nature, spirituality, and culture in a meaningful way for visitors and the local community alike.