THE WORK OF NYMPHS

A fascinating sense of mystery pervades the Garden of Ninfa, a romantic oasis of exotic plants and scented flowers blooming amidst the ruins of a medieval village, at the foot of the Lepini mountains. Situated less than 80 kilometres south-east of the capital, Ninfa rewards visitors with what the New York Times defined as “the most beautiful garden in the world”. Take a break from Rome’s bustle and step into the luxuriant magic of this enchanting Eden on a full-day excursion to the countryside.

Your chauffeur will meet you at your accommodation and drive you to Ninfa. Here your official, private guide will be waiting, ready to lead you on a tour of the garden while detailing the history of the site and explaining why so many different specimens thrive in this charmed corner of Latium.

A settlement must have existed here back in ancient Roman times, as attested by the name of the garden itself, which may well derive from a long-lost classical-era temple dedicated to the nymphs, goddesses of springs, rivers and forests, who were believed to inhabit the area. However, it was only in the Middle Ages, between the 8th and 10th centuries, that the town flourished, thanks to its location along the Via Pedemontana-Volsca, the trading route that linked Rome to lower Lazio. Several powerful dynasties disputed the lordship of Ninfa until 1298, when this territory came into the possession of the Caetani family. Under their rule the town reached its heyday, enjoying almost a century of peace and prosperity until this was abruptly interrupted in the late 14th century. Indeed disaster struck in 1382: Ninfa was destroyed by the troops of the antipope during the Great Schism of the Catholic Church and its few survivors were either ravaged by malaria or forced to escape, leading to the town’s inevitable decline. Although attempts were made to repopulate the area, Ninfa never again achieved its former glory and lay abandoned for some six hundred years, a fact to which it owes its nickname of “Pompeii of the Middle Ages”. In the early 1900s the enlightened descendants of the aristocratic Caetani family began to revisit Ninfa and set about transforming the site into a marvellous English-style garden. They drained the swamps, planted rare botanical species brought back from their travels abroad and restored the crumbling ruins of the old abandoned town. Work finished under Leila Caetani, the last of the line, who established the Roffredo Caetani Foundation, which still manages the garden today, and devoted her efforts to perfecting Ninfa’s beauty until her death in 1977.

Ornamental apple and cherry trees, Japanese maples, Oriental magnolias, Himalayan and Mexican pines, banana trees, red beeches, marsh irises and acacias spread out over eight hectares and flourish among the ruins of medieval walls, churches and the baronial palazzo. We owe this extraordinary variety of specimens to the garden’s unique geographical location, favourable microclimatic conditions and abundant natural water supply. The sea is just a few miles away, while the mountains behind Ninfa block cold winds and trap low-lying fog causing frequent rain showers and creating the perfect environment for the growth of 1,300 different botanical varieties from all over the world. The setting is indescribably atmospheric. Honeysuckle drapes over the tops of collapsed towers and walls, climbing roses peep through tree branches and ruined archways, a small river meanders through the greenery, forming ponds and streams, and a church wall complete with 12th century frescoes still stands despite the onslaughts of the weather, surrounded by lush vegetation.

After the tour enjoy some free time for lunch, then rejoin your driver and return to your accommodation in Rome.