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https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/luca-lorenzelli/art/ninfa
If you are looking for a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in nature and history, you should visit the Ninfa Gardens (Giardino di Ninfa) in Lazio, Italy. This enchanting garden, built on the ruins of the medieval town of Ninfa, has been declared a Natural Monument by the Lazio Region and one of the most beautiful and romantic gardens in the world by the New York Times.
The history of Ninfa
The name Ninfa derives from a Roman temple dedicated to the water deities, which is still located in the garden. The town of Ninfa was part of a larger territory called Campagna and Marittima, and had a strategic role due to its position on the route that connected Rome and Naples. In the 11th century, the town was governed by various noble families, such as the Conti di Tuscolo and the Frangipani, under whom the town's architecture flourished and its economic and political importance grew. In 1298, Pope Boniface VIII bought Ninfa and other neighboring territories for his nephew Pietro II Caetani, marking the beginning of the presence of the Caetani family in the Pontine region. In 1382, Ninfa was sacked and destroyed by the troops supporting the anti-Pope in the Great Schism. The city was never rebuilt, also because of the malaria that infested the nearby plain, and became a ghost town with only its ruins remaining.
The creation of the garden
In the 16th century, Cardinal Nicolò III Caetani, a lover of botany, created a 'garden of delights' at Ninfa that included a walled garden, hortus conclusus, situated next to the medieval castle. He planted rare citrus varieties, tulips and ornamental fountains. In the late 19th century, Ada Bootle Wilbraham, the wife of Onorato Caetani, and her sons built an actual Anglo-Saxon style garden, by draining the swamps, planting cypress trees, oaks, beeches, and restoring some ruins. The care of the garden was continued by the descendants of the Caetani family, until the last heir, Lelia, who added various botanical species and established the Roffredo Caetani Foundation, which still deals with protecting the Giardino di Ninfa and the castle of Sermoneta.
The beauty of Ninfa
The garden covers eight acres of landscape and hosts 1300 botanical species. You can admire nineteen varieties of deciduous magnolia, birch, water iris and several Japanese maples. The ornamental cherry trees that bloom in the spring, apple trees and the tulip tree are also spectacular. There are many varieties of roses that climb on trees and ruins along the river and streams, making this a particularly romantic place. Tropical plants such as avocado, banana trees and Gunnera manicata can also be admired.
The garden is also home to a rich fauna that includes 152 species of birds, such as peregrine falcons, barn owls and grey herons. The river Ninfa rises near the city and flows for 30 km towards the Pontine plain, forming a lake whose waters house a peculiar species of trout imported from Africa by the Romans thousands of years ago.
How to visit Ninfa
The garden is open to visitors only on certain days of the year (usually from April to November), with guided tours that last about an hour. You can book your tickets online on [the official website](https://www.giardinodininfa.eu/) or by phone at +39 06 9263427. The entrance fee is 15 euros for adults and 8 euros for children under 12 years old. The garden is located about 80 km south-east of Rome and can be reached by car or by train (from Roma Termini station to Latina station).
If you are looking for a unique experience in Italy, you should not miss this hidden gem that will make you feel like you are in a fairy tale. The Ninfa Gardens are a perfect destination for nature lovers, history buffs and romantics alike. Don't forget your camera!
