Alternately called the “most beautiful garden in the world”, the “most romantic garden in the world”, enchanted and home to fairies, the Garden of Ninfa, just outside Rome is a spectacularly beautiful park. The garden includes the remains of the ancient city of Ninfa and is known mostly to garden enthusiasts. A bit of a well-kept secret, it is still visited by over 60,000 people a year and is well worth stopping by if you get a chance. Everywhere you turn, you'll be met by picturesque vistas straight out of paintings or storybooks. Find a holiday rental in Rome and you could spend a day getting lost in your own little world and strolling through the gardens.
Ninfa was originally the site of an ancient Roman temple devoted to the Nymphs. The waters that inspired this temple and dedication attracted settlement to the area and, eventually, a significant town was established. During the Middle Ages the town suffered from political struggles, being ransacked and bouts by malaria. Ultimately, the town was abandoned until the twentieth century.
It was a part of the estate of the Caetani family who eventually transformed the ruins into the botanical garden that stands there today.
It was a part of the estate of the Caetani family who eventually transformed the ruins into the botanical garden that stands there today.
Gelasio Caetani began by restoring the first buildings, digging the bed of the river, planting trees, and creating the garden with the help of his mother, her sister and his niece. Roffredo, his brother, restored the old town hall which became the headquarters of the Foundation that eventually took over and inherited the site. The last owner, Lelia Caetani, left the garden to them.
Set over an area of 106 hectares, with the garden comprising 8 hectares and the Natural Park of Pantanello made up of just under 100 hectares, it sees plants intimately entangled with the ruins.
There are 1,300 botanical species including nineteen varieties of deciduous magnolia, birch, water iris and several Japanese maples, cherry trees, apple trees and a tulip tree. There are also many different varieties of roses set across the gardens. In addition, tropical plants such as the avocado, the South American Gunnera manicata and the banana trees can also be admired. The area acts as a natural greenhouse and allows plants to grow larger, and for longer, than normal. With the sea a few miles away and the mountains behind, the cold is kept away. In addition, a light rain falls almost every afternoon, creating the perfect environment for the plantlife.
Ninfa has extremely limited opening times and can only be seen with a guide. Standard opening is the first weekend and third Sunday of each month (April to October) and entrance costs around €10. However, it is definitely worth trying to fit a visit into any trip to Rome as it is quite unlike any other garden in the world.
Set over an area of 106 hectares, with the garden comprising 8 hectares and the Natural Park of Pantanello made up of just under 100 hectares, it sees plants intimately entangled with the ruins.
There are 1,300 botanical species including nineteen varieties of deciduous magnolia, birch, water iris and several Japanese maples, cherry trees, apple trees and a tulip tree. There are also many different varieties of roses set across the gardens. In addition, tropical plants such as the avocado, the South American Gunnera manicata and the banana trees can also be admired. The area acts as a natural greenhouse and allows plants to grow larger, and for longer, than normal. With the sea a few miles away and the mountains behind, the cold is kept away. In addition, a light rain falls almost every afternoon, creating the perfect environment for the plantlife.
Ninfa has extremely limited opening times and can only be seen with a guide. Standard opening is the first weekend and third Sunday of each month (April to October) and entrance costs around €10. However, it is definitely worth trying to fit a visit into any trip to Rome as it is quite unlike any other garden in the world.
Photo credits
picture 1: Astrovega / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Greymouser / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Greymouser / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Astrovega / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Greymouser / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Greymouser / CC BY-SA 3.0
