Orto Botanico (Botanical Garden), Rome

The Botanical Garden in Rome offers visitors a serene escape from the bustling city, where they can immerse themselves in the extraordinary variety of plant life carefully preserved within its grounds.

The Botanical Garden in Rome continues the tradition of gardens with significant scientific and naturalistic value, following in the footsteps of the Vatican Garden, the first example of a botanical garden.

After several relocations, the Botanical Garden finally found its permanent home in Villa Corsini alla Lungara in 1883. Today, the garden covers an area of 12 hectares and houses a diverse range of plant species from around the world.

Noteworthy collections within the garden include one of Europe's richest bamboo collections and a Mediterranean forest predominantly composed of oaks, reflecting the vegetation that once covered the Gianicolo Hill. The garden also boasts an impressive collection of Gymnosperms, including sequoias, conifers, pines, firs, larches, cedars of Lebanon, cypresses, and junipers.

Within the enchanting glasshouses spanning over 2,000 square meters, visitors can explore around 400 orchid species, such as the common Cattleya, the Moth, and the Vanda orchid from Southeast Asia with its long stem. The Serra Corsini, dating back to 1800, showcases numerous examples of succulent plants.

The garden also features a Garden of Aromas, where plants can be identified by their tactile or olfactory characteristics. The Japanese Garden captivates with its cherry trees, camellias, magnolias, water features, small waterfalls, and two delightful ponds.

In the Mediterranean Garden, visitors can observe typical species of the Mediterranean maquis, while the Herb Garden showcases various medicinal plants. The Valletta delle Felci hosts a collection of herbaceous ferns. Water elements such as a small lake, a stream, and pools create a perfect environment for aquatic plants. The splendid Rose Garden, in full bloom during May, showcases around 60 species that illustrate the evolution of the Rosa genus over the past 2,000 years of human history.

The Palm Tree collection includes numerous specimens and rare examples, earning its inclusion in the red lists of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The tropical greenhouse provides a controlled environment with specific temperature and humidity levels, showcasing themed areas that highlight the immense biodiversity of tropical forests.

Throughout the seasons, the Botanical Garden offers different delights. Spring welcomes the Hanami, the enchanting cherry blossom in the Japanese garden. In summer, visitors can marvel at the vibrant blooms, including those in the rhododendron garden. Autumn brings a spectacle of foliage, as the leaves of numerous maple species transform into a kaleidoscope of yellow, orange, and red hues.