With the Alps, art cities, and dream beaches, Italy has a lot to offer. So, are you looking for a quiet moment away from the chaos of the city? For your next weekend out of town, get inspired by these 7 beautiful gardens to discover in Italy!
1. Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle (Trentino-Alto Adige)
Located in Merano, outside the Trauttmansdorff Castle, the gardens are an unmissable place for all nature lovers. With more than 80 botanical species coming from all over the world, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle are the most popular tourist destination in South Tyrol. In autumn, the magic of foliage fills the landscape with a thousand shades over the 12 hectares of the gardens.
To find out more: Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle
Your eco-friendly stay: spend your holiday at the Park Hotel Mignon, a small luxury hotel at a 5-minute walk from the center of Merano. Surrounded by 10,000 m2 of nature, this eco-friendly tourism accommodation is perfect for a holiday in contact with nature!
2. Gardens of Isola Bella (Piedmont)
Once inhabited by fishermen, Isola Bella was tranformed by the Borromeo family that designed the construction of the palace and the garden. The Isola Bella garden is an idyllic place spread over ten terraces where statues and monuments blend with the surrounding nature. Around the Teatro Massimo, the most important monument in the garden, numerous rare plants make the experience even more unique.
To find out more: Gardens of Isola Bella
Your eco-friendly stay: spend your holiday at Il Feriolo, a family-run bed and breakfast on the Piedmontese shore of Lake Maggiore. The house, with spectacular lake views, is the ideal place to stay in the vicinity of Isola Bella.
3. Hanbury Botanical Gardens (Liguria)
Located on the Ligurian coast, the Hanbury Botanical Gardens are home to many botanical species of mainly tropical and subtropical origin. Indeed, Thomas Hanbury’s idea was to transform the land into an acclimatization garden for exotic plants.
Among the paths that characterize the Hanbury Botanical Gardens, you can also see monuments and a stretch of the ancient Via Julia Augusta.
To find out more: Hanbury Botanical Gardens
Your eco-friendly stay: spend your holiday at The Mortola Tower Eco Resort, an ancient tower among the botanical gardens that offers breathtaking views of the sea.
4. Sigurtà Garden Park (Veneto)
Situated in Valeggio sul Mincio, in the province of Verona, the Sigurtà Garden Park is one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy. The park hosts many attractions, including the avenue of roses, the flowering of tulips and water lilies, the deer valley, and the labyrinth. And as if that weren’t enough, there is an old farm where you can admire sheep, goats, donkeys, and other animals.
To find out more: Sigurtà Garden Park
Your eco-friendly stay: spend your holiday at Agriturismo Monte Vento, an organic farmhouse nestled in the Morainic Hills of Garda, 5 minutes from Valeggio sul Mincio. The Sigurtà Garden Park is 3 kilometers away from the property.
5. Gardens of Villa d’Este in Tivoli (Lazio)
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Gardens of Villa d’Este in Tivoli are a symbol of the Italian Renaissance. This masterpiece of art and nature is famous all over the world for its splendid fountains, including the Organ Fountain and the Bicchierone Fountain, which leave visitors speechless for the incredible water games.
To find out more: Gardens of Villa d’Este in Tivoli
Your eco-friendly stay: spend your holiday at Tenuta Colfiorito, amidst vineyards and olive groves, and surrounded by the Tiburtini Mountains. Tenuta Colfiorito is located a few kilometers from Rome.
6. Gardens of Villa Reale di Marlia (Tuscany)
Surrounded by the monumental park, the Royal Villa of Marlia is a true jewel of art and architecture. The restoration works began in 2015 on behalf of the Grönberg family, who fell in love with the Villa.
Starting from May 2021, the path of the apartments that can be visited has been expanded with the miniatures room, and a new museum has been opened in the Clock building.
To find out more: Gardens of Villa Reale di Marlia
Your eco-friendly stay: spend your holiday at Villa Lean, a farmhouse on the hills of Lucca, a few kilometers from the Royal Villa of Marlia. The name of the villa recalls the famous director David Lean, who owned the property after falling in love with the breathtaking view over the Lucca Valley.
7. La Mortella Gardens (Campania)
The La Mortella Gardens divide into two parts: the downstream garden and the hillside garden.
The downstream garden, characterized by numerous rare plants, has an L shape and is crossed by a stream that allows the cultivation of aquatic plants. The hillside garden blends with the formations of volcanic origin and offers spectacular sea views.
The diversity of the two gardens makes La Mortella a must-see as one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy.
To find out more: La Mortella Gardens
Your eco-friendly stay: spend your holiday at the Casa Vacanze Sofia in Ischia, a residence complex a few steps from S. Angelo, the only pedestrian village on the whole island. The La Mortella Gardens are 10 kilometers away from the property.
So, what are you waiting for? Don’t miss the opportunity to visit one of these beautiful gardens to discover in Italy!
Cover image: Hanbury Botanical Gardens, photo by Wikimedia Commons via Google creative common licenses
