If you’re a traveler who wants some breathing space between your exploration of Museums and historic districts, then visiting the country’s top parks and gardens should definitely be on your itinerary as well. Many of these gardens and parks in Italy are ancient places themselves, but they still serve as welcoming oases for weary tourists and locals alike, people who are looking for some relief from the urban hustle and bustle.
Villa Borghese – Located on the Pincian Hill in the heart of Rome, the Villa Borghese Pinciana was built in the 1600s by the architect Flaminio Ponzio, who was commissioned by the Catholic cardinal and art patron Scipione Borghese to create a villa that would house his art collection. Reinvented as a public park when the Borghese family sold the estate to the Italian government in 1902, the Villa Borghese now boasts of several museums, the most famous of which is the Galleria Borghese, which houses most of the noble family’s collection of antiquities, paintings, and sculptures.
The gallery is situated within the Villa Borghese Gardens, which is famous for its tree-lined streets and landscaped topography. Also located within the gardens are other points of interest like the Siena Square, a lake with a decorative temple, the Villa Giulia (which houses an Etruscan museum), the Villa Medici (which is home to the French Academy in Rome), and the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna (the National Gallery of Modern Art).
The Villa Borghese also offers a great aerial view of the Piazza del Poppolo and the Roman skyline.
Parco Sempione – Inaugurated in 1888, the Parco Sempione is the largest green space in the city of Milan. It was designed by the architect Emilio Alemagna in such a way that visitors would also be able to appreciate the two landmarks thatare near the park, namely the 15th-century Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle) and the Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace), one of the most famous triumphal arches in the city. It is also home to the Palazzo dell’Arte (Palace of Art), which contains the La Trennale di Milano, a design museum and exhibition venue. The park attracts a lot of visitors, who are attracted by its beautiful ponds, bridges, play grounds, open areas, and its free wireless network.
Parco del Valentino – One of the most popular public parks in Turin, the Parco del Valentino is located on the shores of the River Po. This pleasant green space is a great place to stroll, jog, or ride a bicycle in. It was originally conceived by Christine of France, Regent of Savoy, who started converting the lodge in the area into the splendid the Castello del Valentino in 1620. At present, the palace is home to one of the departments of the University of Turin. Adjacent to this building is the institution’s botanical gardens, which became part of the university in 1729 and today houses various species of flora.
Giardini di Boboli – The Boboli Gardens is the most popular park in the city of Florence. Originally built in the 1500s for Eleonora di Toledo, the wife of then Duke of Florence Cosimo I de’Medici, the Boboli Gardens is famous for its winding avenues and elaborate garden temples, nyphaeums, fountains, and grottoes. It even houses an Egyptian obelisk, which was hauled in from the Medicis’ villa in Rome. The Boboli Gardens is also located near the Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace), which used to be the chief residence of the grand dukes of Tuscany from the Medici family.
Giardino Giusti – Finally, there’s the Giardino Giusti in Verona, which is undeniably one of the most beautiful Renaissance gardens in Italy. The garden is adjacent to the Palazzo Giusti, which was built in the Neo-Classical style in the 16th century. The garden itself was originally planted in 1580 and features several parterres with hedge mazes, potted plants, topiary, and sculptures. The Giardino Giusti also offers a fantastic view of the city below it.
