Italy’s cultural and historical heritage extends far beyond its monuments and museums – its gardens are an integral part of the story. Often historic landmarks themselves and models for Italian-style gardens worldwide, the most beautiful gardens in Italy offer stunning views, rare plants, and settings of unparalleled charm.
Boboli Gardens (Florence)
Behind Palazzo Pitti lies one of Florence’s most famous parks. With terraces, parterres, avenues of holm oaks and panoramic city views, the Boboli Gardens are the quintessential Italian-style garden. Created by the Medici in the 16th century and expanded over time, the gardens combine art and nature with ancient sculptures, grottos, obelisks and remarkable perspective effects. Highlights include the Kaffeehaus, the historic Limonaia and the Giardino del Cavaliere.
Villa d’Este (Tivoli)
A Renaissance masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lazio, Villa d’Este is famous for its spectacular fountains and water features. Commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este in the 16th century, the gardens feature the Hundred Fountains Avenue, the Hydraulic Organ Fountain (which plays music powered by water), the Rometta and the Neptune Fountain. It’s one of the top Italian gardens for lovers of history and water displays.
Parco Giardino Sigurtà (Valeggio sul Mincio)
Just a short distance from Borghetto, Parco Giardino Sigurtà is a vast landscape garden celebrated for its seasonal blooms that transform the park month by month. Open since 1978 but with origins dating to the 15th century, the park features the Great Lawn, Water Lily Ponds, Rose Avenue, a Hermitage and one of Veneto’s finest historic mazes. It’s considered one of the most beautiful gardens in northern Italy.
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Villa Cimbrone (Ravello)
Perched on the Amalfi Coast, Villa Cimbrone is a garden suspended between sky and sea. The Avenue of Verse leads to the famous Terrace of Infinity, a colonnaded viewpoint with panoramic views over the Gulf of Salerno. With fragrant roses, classical statues, pavilions and pergolas, the landscape design blends English romanticism with Italian classical style. While in Ravello, visitors also enjoy Villa Rufolo, one of the town’s other iconic gardens.
Isola Bella (Lake Maggiore)
Created by the Borromeo family, Isola Bella is a Baroque gem on Lake Maggiore and one of the most famous gardens in Italy. Its terraced Italian-style gardens feature white peacocks, statues, obelisks and citrus trees, all perfectly integrated with the surrounding landscape and the historic palace behind. Don’t miss the Berthier Gallery, which houses over 130 works by Italian master painters.
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Villa Taranto (Verbania)
Among Europe’s most important botanical gardens, Villa Taranto was designed by Captain Neil Boyd McEacharn, who transformed the shores of Lake Maggiore from 1931 onwards. The gardens are a wonder of conifers, greenhouses, water lily ponds, and collections of dahlias and rhododendrons, making it a must-visit even for non-botanists. Open from March to November, it’s one of Italy’s top botanical gardens.
Kolymbethra Garden (Agrigento)
Located in the heart of the Valley of the Temples, Kolymbethra Garden is a Mediterranean oasis restored by the FAI. Filled with the scent of orange blossom, lemons and almonds, this historic agricultural garden is irrigated by ancient underground channels and features citrus trees, carobs and centuries-old olive trees. The best time to visit is from late winter to spring, when blossoms and light create an enchanting atmosphere.
Ninfa Garden (Cisterna di Latina)
Considered one of the most romantic gardens in Italy and named by The New York Times as one of the world’s most beautiful gardens, Ninfa Garden lies on the ruins of a medieval town. Thanks to its unique microclimate, lush vegetation thrives year-round, with streams, bridges, roses, Japanese maples, apple trees and magnolias. Visits are limited to specific weekends to protect the ecosystem, with spring being the most spectacular season, while autumn offers unforgettable colours.
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Villa Grock (Imperia)
A surprising and theatrical garden, Villa Grock was the home of Swiss clown Adrien Wettach, known as Grock. The villa blends Art Nouveau, eclecticism and exotic elements, featuring bridges, colonnades, water features and a scenic park. Elegant yet playful, it reflects the spirit of its original owner. Among the top sights in Imperia, the villa also houses the Clown Museum.
Haunted places in Italy: 5 chilling picks for 2025
Italy wears its history on its sleeve, and some corners are a touch darker than others. Think cursed palazzi, plague islands and catacombs where time seems to freeze. If you’re after goosebumps with a side of culture, these five haunted places in Italy mix gripping folklore with very real, very atmospheric settings.
Best things to do this Halloween in Italy 2025
If you’re hunting for things to do this Halloween in Italy, 2025 is shaping up nicely with witchy festivals in medieval borghi, grand-villa masquerades and lantern-lit ghost walks. During Halloween in Italy, expect a playful mix of costume parties and the more reflective Ognissanti traditions.
Top holiday destinations for winter sun in Italy: find the warmest spots
If you’re craving a bit of balmy weather while the UK is grey, Italy’s south can be wonderfully sunbaked in winter. Find the best holiday destinations for winter sun in Italy, with the warmest picks by the sea, plus milder city breaks. Find west‑facing bays that hold the afternoon glow, lively seafronts for a mid‑winter evening stroll, and easy rail or driving links for simple, low‑stress routes. Plan for long lunches on sunlit terraces, breezy coastal walks with shelter when you need
Halloween in Italy: a growing celebration of spooky traditions
Halloween is increasingly popular in Italy, especially in larger cities and historic towns. Expect costume parties, ghost tours and some neighbourhood trick‑or‑treating, alongside long‑standing traditions around All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. See how Italians celebrate Halloween, how the season differs from the US and UK, and where to experience it.
What to see near the Port of Naples on foot: top sights in the city centre
The Port of Naples is one of Italy’s most important ports, not just for goods but also for thousands of passengers every year. Visitors arriving from other Mediterranean cities, or simply from the islands in the Gulf of Naples, often begin their exploration of the city right from the port. So, what’s worth seeing near the Port of Naples on foot? Here are the highlights.
Traditional Italian Christmas desserts: panettone, pandoro and regional treats
Italian Christmas desserts aren’t a one‑off finale. Through December, families slice panettone after lunch, dust pandoro with sugar at teatime and pass plates of honeyed bites with coffee or a small glass of something bubbly.
Traditional Christmas food: what Italians eat at Christmas
Christmas in Italy is all about long tables, clinking glasses and recipes that only come out once a year. Think seafood suppers on Christmas Eve, generous roasts on Christmas Day and a steady parade of sweet things alongside strong coffee and a splash of something herbal.