The Best Botanical Gardens in Italy

Lakes and coast

Four of the eight Italian gardens stand above a lake or the sea. Villa Taranto in Verbania looks over Lake Maggiore, and the Giardini di Villa Melzi run along the shore of Lake Como at Bellagio. Giardini Botanici Hanbury drops from the coast road to the sea near Ventimiglia, and La Mortella is terraced into a hillside at Forio, on Ischia. The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle climb a slope outside Merano, with views of the town and the mountains. Parco Giardino Sigurtà at Valeggio sul Mincio covers about 60 hectares, and visitors cross it on foot, by golf cart, e-bike or mini train.

Visits

Giardino di Ninfa, laid out on the ruins of a medieval town south of Rome, is seen only on timed guided tours that must be booked in advance. La Mortella is not open every day. The Orto Botanico di Padova, founded in 1545, is in the city centre and has a free audio guide. Entry to most of the gardens costs between 10 and 18 euros.