Rome’s Top 10 : Green Spaces

by



  1. Villa Borghese

    Extensive,
    elegant and full of shady glades and beautiful fountains, this is a
    great park for a stroll, a picnic or a jog. You can also go boating on
    the artificial lake, rent a bicycle or in-line skates .




    Villa Borghese

  2. Pincio

    The
    traditional time to enjoy the most famous panorama of Rome is at
    sunset. Other charms here include the water clock, the busts of various
    notables and an Egyptian-style obelisk Emperor Hadrian erected on the
    tomb of his beloved Antinous.




    Water clock, Pincio

  3. Villa Celimontana

    Picnics
    have been a tradition here since 1552, when San Filippo Neri instituted
    the Visit of the Seven Churches and the Mattei family offered pilgrims a
    simple repast. In summer it’s the venue for wonderful dinner-concerts.

    • Piazza della Navicella 12

    • Open dawn–dusk

    • DA




  4. Villa Doria Pamphilj

    Rome’s
    largest green area, extending from the Gianicolo along the ancient Via
    Aurelia. It’s a terrific place for a run and offers a course of exercise
    posts. Its hills are adorned with villas, fountains, lakes and
    orangeries and are perfect for strolls; or enjoy a picnic under the
    umbrella pines .




    Villa Doria Pamphilj

  5. Orto Botanico

    The
    graceful botanical gardens and grounds of Palazzo Corsini now provide
    one of the most enjoyable places to while away an hour or two and
    breathe in air richly perfumed by more than 7,000 plant species that
    thrive here. The gardens, which now belong to the University of Rome,
    include indigenous and exotic varieties, grouped according to ecosystems .




    Orto Botanico

  6. Villa Sciarra

    This
    small park is replete with fountains, gazebos, ponds, loggias and
    statuary. There are leafy lanes for walking and lawns for relaxing. It’s
    a good place for children, too .

    • Via Calandrelli

    • Open dawn–dusk

    • DA

  7. Villa Ada

    This
    huge public park, originally the hunting reserve of King Vittorio
    Emanuele III, has rolling lawns, serene waters and copses. It’s worth
    the trip out if you need an antidote to the fumes and noise of the city.
    On summer nights the lake at the far end hosts food stalls and
    concerts.

    • Via Salaria

    • Open dawn–dusk

    • DA




  8. Piazza Cairoli

    One
    of the very newest city parks makes an ideal break from this hectic
    district. Sitting on a bench by a well-tended lawn, with flowers in
    bloom and the gently splashing fountain, can go a long way towards
    restoring frayed nerves.

    • Via Arenula, Via dei Giubbonari

    • DA

  9. Colle Oppio

    After
    hours of walking around the Forum and the Colosseum in the high summer
    heat, these green slopes can be a welcome sight. Most of the Colle Oppio
    park is actually the roof of Nero’s Golden House ,
    and you can see skylight structures for its rooms. If you haven’t had
    enough of sightseeing, you can also examine the massive remains of the
    Baths of Trajan scattered about the area.

    • Via Labicana, Parco Oppio

    • DA

  10. Parco della Resistenza dell’8 Settembre

    This
    former dustbowl has now been turned into a pleasant slice of greenery,
    where local people picnic and children play. Since it’s one of the few
    parks in the city without walls or gates, it’s perfect for enjoying a
    moonlight stroll here after dinner.

    • Viale della Piramide di Cestia, Viale M Gelsomini

    • DA