Located immediately to the east of St. Andrew's Cathedral on Clyde Street in Glasgow, the Italian Cloister Garden represents a surprising contrast to the traditional Gothic-revival architecture of the cathedral. Hidden behind a wall of sandstone monoliths, it is distinctly modern, comprising mirrored vertical slabs, grass, slate and a stream surrounding a 200-year-old olive tree, which was gifted by the people of Tuscany as a symbol of peace and reconciliation. Initiated by Mario Conti (1934 - 2022), Archbishop of Glasgow, the £1.5-million garden stands as a symbol of the bond with Italy and the contributions of those who, since the 1890s, had travelled primarily from the Tuscany and Lazio regions to make Scotland their home. The garden was designed by the Rome-based architect Giulia Chiarini.
A focal point of the garden is a monument to those killed in the Arandora Star in 1940. This ship was torpedoed by a German submarine while en route from Liverpool to Canada, carrying Italian and German internees, and a smaller number of prisoners-of-war. 805 people where lost, including British crew members and guards. Many of the Italians were from Glasgow. 868 survivors were rescued and brought to Greenock, with the injured hospitalised at Newton Mearns. They were later sent overseas once again, although the tragedy was eventually to change the policy of the British Government, bringing about more localised internment. The garden was officially opened on 16th May 2011 by Archbishop Conti with First Minister Alex Salmond (b. 1954), who had supported the fundraising campaign, the Lady Provost of Glasgow and Rando Bertoia (1920 - 2013), a Glaswegian-Italian who was the last living survivor of the Arandora Star. The garden includes a cafe, exhibition space, meeting rooms and gathering area.
Visitors to the garden have included violinist Nicola Benedetti (b. 1987) and author Mary Contini (b. 1956), who was presented with an Italian knighthood here by that country's ambassador to the UK, Alain Economides.
