The garden of Ninfa is known as one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe, declared a Natural Monument by the Region of Lazio.it is the greatest example of an English style garden in Italy, is an oasis found at just over an hour away from Rome, in the direction of Cisterna di Latina.
The garden’s name derives from a small temple dedicated to the Naiadi Nymphs that stood in the city of Ninfa, an ancient settlement now incorporated in the garden. The area that is home to the garden was swampland until 1921, when Gelasio Caetani began the renovation of what had once been the Town Hall and the Castle Tower of the village of Ninfa, populating those lands with botanical varieties, under the expert green thumb of his mother.
The Legend Surrounding the Garden of Ninfa
It is said that the king of the Agro Pontino lived with his beautiful daughter Ninfa in the castle on the lake at the foot of the Lepini Mountains. To open a passage to the sea he wanted to reclaim the wetlands that surrounded the area. He went to the two neighboring kings: the evil Moro and the sweet Martino, with whom Ninfa was secretly in love, promising his daughter in marriage to he who completed the task. The good Martino worked hard without succeeding, while Moro using magic and without any effort, on the last day drained the marshes. Ninfa , rather than marrying Moro, threw herself into the lake and disappeared forever in the waters.
Garden of Ninfa: What is There to See?
It is easy to say what to see at the Ninfa gardens during your personalized tour in Italy with Dragonfly Tours: in its more than 8 hectares of land there are more than 1300 plants, many of which are imported from exotic places, like the Japanese maples or bamboo, along with apple trees , magnolias, hydrangeas, roses and wisteria. In addition, 100 different species of birds have been classified. There are numerous streams and waterways that create an optimal microclimate for the lush growth of this small ecosystem that holds a vast assortment of flora and fauna in one of the most visited places in Lazio. It’s practically a required daytrip if you decide to spend your holiday in Italy.
Walking through the Garden of Ninfa is like going into the forest of Alice in Wonderland: you cross the small lake surmounted by the bridge of Macello (a name that contains numerous meanings), and enter the protected oasis of the WWF, shielded by the Rupe di Norma (the Cliff of Norma)that shelters the plants and flowers from the cold winds allowing us to find species here that wouldn’t be able to survive elsewhere in the region.
Useful information and visiting hours
The Garden of Ninfa is located far from the city noise and is easy to get to with just a bit of planning. By choosing to rely on our personalized services you will have all the assistance you need. If you are in Rome, you can arrive by train from Termini Station to Latina Scalo and from there you can take a taxi, or you can easily reach the gardens by car.
The Garden of Ninfa, being a protected area, isn’t open to the public every day, but according to a set timetable, and admission is only possible by reservation. However, the summer opening hours are plentiful, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy a walk through this fairytale forest.