The Albergo delle Piante: A Community Garden at Rome's Corviale

In Rome's Corviale district, artists Mimmo Rubino (Rub Kandy) and Angelo Sabatiello have created the Albergo delle Piante, a community garden on the steps of the abandoned Piazza dell'ex Mercato (Cavea). Since summer 2015, they have worked with residents, patients from the local psychiatric rehabilitation facility directed by Ester Stocco, and youth from the Centro di Aggregazione Giovanile 'Luogo Comune' to place potted plants donated by locals. The garden is self-managed, participatory, and non-permanent, designed to respect the original architecture by Mario Fiorentino. The project avoids institutional funding and formal commissions, relying on volunteer efforts. It aims to foster community identity and social responsibility, with weekly meetings for plant care. The artists call it 'the most beautiful garden in Rome,' viewing it as public art and a social sculpture. While the Lazio Region allocated €9.5 million for the 'Rigenerare Corviale' architecture competition, this grassroots initiative operates without budget, emphasizing process over outcome.