Santa Croce in Jerusalem Garden/June 2008, Rome, Italy

On several mornings a week this shop is open with fresh garden veggies and fruits from the monks' garden at Santa Croce in Jerusalem, in Rome, Italy. Everything is so fresh and the colors are nice and bright. I managed a beautiful little watermelon, dark dark purple eggplant, zucchini, huge cherries, fresh rosemary, brilliant beet greens, a huge yellow bell pepper and a handful of nice flat green beans. After the shopping I took a walk through the garden. It was my first time there and since it is in my neighborhood figured I should take a look. They charge Five Euros but it's an interesting garden to visit, at least once!

Santa Croce is the basilica which holds relics of the Holy Cross, splinters of the wood from the cross Jesus died on, a few of the thorns from the crown of thorns, a few pebbles from the pillar where Jesus was scourged, a nail (yes!), and even Doubting Thomas' finger bone. Well I'm not sure I believe all of this but they have them there as well as the cross bar from the cross of the Good Thief. Interesting place to visit. Supposedly, items I believe, were acquired at Calvary by St. Helena, Constantine's mother, and she brought them to Rome.

The only other amphitheatre in Rome (besides the Coliseum) surrounds the garden (or what remains of the amphitheatre). It's called the Amphitheatre Castrense. The church and the monastery have belonged to the Cistercian monks since 1561.

I think I like the garden and the shop the best!!! I also found out after I took these pictures that picture-taking is forbidden!