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A short journey from hectic Rome to Ninfa will reward the traveler with what the New York Times defined as “the most beautiful garden in the world”. The garden was also voted the most beautiful garden of Italy in 2015. Ninfa’s gardens are located on the ruins of the old city of Ninfa, at the bottom of the Lepini mounts, situated at the junction of the cities of Sermoneta, Norma, and Cisterna di Latina.

The old city was founded as a small village or a settlement of a few peasants along the path of via Pedemontana–Volsca that linked Rome to lower Lazio. Its geographical setting was and still is the basis of all its horticultural richness. Via Pedemontana–Volsca in medieval times was the only roadway that was utilized for commercial traffic since via Appia was rendered unusable by the growing marshes in the Pontina flatlands.

The romantic English-style gardens of Ninfa, situated about 80 km south-east of Rome, have received a prestigious European Garden Award from the European Garden Heritage Network (EGHN). Ninfa came second only to London’s Kew Gardens in the “European heritage of gardens and gardening” section of the EGHN network which comprises 190 parks and gardens in 14 countries.

The recognition was awarded to the president of Ninfa garden’s Roffredo Caetani Foundation, Tommaso Agnoni, who said that Ninfa is now a “point of reference throughout Europe.” Considered by the New York Times as “the most beautiful and romantic garden in the world”, Ninfa has more than 1,000 shrubs, plants, and flowering trees spread out over its eight-hectare site.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)