The New York Times T Magazine asked six international horticulture experts to select the 25 gardens that are changing how we look at plants today.
Italy stands out with five places, each telling a different story about landscape, history and contemporary design.
Visiting them with a fresh eye means going beyond the postcard and understanding why they matter now.
- Giardino di Ninfa – Lazio
A garden built on the ruins of a medieval town, among streams, ancient walls and over 1,300 botanical species. The humid microclimate creates an ideal environment for continuous flowering, even out of season.
What to expect
- Silent paths among rose gardens, Japanese maples and ivy-covered ruins
- A hushed atmosphere: access is regulated to protect the balance of the site
- Limited openings from March to November, by guided tour only
Ideal if you are looking for: a place to wander at a slow pace, where botany and poetry meet.
- Villa Gamberaia – Toscana
Overlooking the hills of Settignano, just minutes from Florence, Villa Gamberaia is famous for its geometric perspectives and its parterre d’eau, where the sky is reflected among cypresses and statues.
Why go
- An example of the Italian formal garden admired by landscape designers worldwide
- A peaceful setting, away from tourist crowds
- Self-guided visit or with a guide by appointment
Combine it with: a stroll in Fiesole or an itinerary through the Medici gardens.
- Villa d’Este – Tivoli (RM)
A masterpiece of Renaissance hydraulic engineering, Villa d’Este offers more than 500 fountains and water features, all powered by the force of gravity alone.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must for anyone who loves art and gardens.
Not to be missed
- The Organ Fountain, which produces sounds thanks to water pressure (it works at set times)
- The Avenue of the Hundred Fountains, among vegetation and architectural settings
- The view over the Aniene valley, especially at sunset
Tip: visit early in the morning to enjoy the park with fewer crowds.
- Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo – Lazio
A garden that overturns every rule: the Park of the Monsters is a symbolic journey among peperino-stone sculptures, mythological creatures and distorted architecture.
Commissioned in the 16th century by Prince Orsini, it remains to this day a place full of charm and mystery.
Good to know
- Natural, uneven terrain: hiking shoes are recommended
- The atmosphere changes with the seasons: mist and leaves in autumn make it almost dreamlike
- Perfect to pair with Vitorchiano or with Lake Bolsena
- Villa Silvio Pellico – Piemonte
In Moncalieri, on the edge of Turin, stands a rare example of a historic garden reinterpreted in the 20th century by Russell Page.
An intimate, elegant place, with plays of perspective axes and English-style parterres that blend into the hilly landscape.
Why it is worth a visit
- Access by appointment only: small groups, guided tours
- A perfect connection with the wines of Piedmont and the Savoy residences
- Ideal for those seeking refined settings far from mass tourism
How to choose the right garden for you
Each place mentioned has a distinct personality. You can choose based on what you wish to observe or experience:
- Poetry and wild nature → Giardino di Ninfa
- Geometry and classical symmetry → Villa Gamberaia
- Wonder and Renaissance technology → Villa d’Este
- Symbolism and Baroque marvel → Bomarzo
- Finesse and modern landscaping → Villa Silvio Pellico
When to go and how to combine them
- Spring: to enjoy the gardens in full bloom (Ninfa, Gamberaia, Silvio Pellico)
- Autumn: for more intimate atmospheres, soft light and fewer crowds
- Long weekends: you can visit Ninfa, Villa d’Este and Bomarzo in 3 days
- A full week: add Tuscany and Piedmont for a complete itinerary
With Il Giardino Segreto you can:
- Receive personalised advice to build a tailor-made itinerary
- Access, where possible, reserved guided tours or visits on special days
- Get to know each garden with the support of guides who are experts in landscape history
