When one thinks of the eternal city the images that come to mind are, more or less, the same for everyone: the Colosseum, St Peter's Dome, the Altare della Patria, the Trevi Fountain and all the other 'classics' that have made the beauty of Rome imperishable. But the Capital, besides being the city that we all - in one way or another - feel a bit 'ours', is also a very green city full of parks.
In fact, there are plenty of green spaces within the Urbe. If you want to dedicate yourself to jogging, to bike rides, if you feel like indulging in long walks in the green, Rome's parks are ideal. But they can also be right for you if you feel like visiting evocative places, historical fountains and extremely romantic buildings surrounded by nature or if you simply feel the need to breathe some clean air away from the smog.
Here are 7 parks in Rome, spread throughout the city, that you absolutely cannot miss.
The 7 most beautiful parks in Rome
Villa Borghese
Villa Doria Pamphili
Villa Torlonia
Villa Sciarra
Villa Ada
Aqueducts Park
Orange Garden
Parks of Rome
Villa Borghese
By far the most famous green area in the city. At 80 hectares, it is 'only' the fourth largest park in Rome. Its peculiarity, however, is that it stands in the centre of the capital: the main entrance is in fact on Piazzale Flaminio.
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Villa Borghese meets every kind of need: it is full of large green areas, sports trails, refreshment stops, but above all, it houses corners of beauty divided into gardens, monuments, fountains, historical buildings, ponds and several museum areas.
To describe it is impossible, to visit it necessary. Not only sport and greenery but also art and culture for the magnificent Villa Borghese.
One place worth checking out is the Relais At Via Veneto hotel, which provides a luxurious and comfortable stay for visitors. The hotel is within walking distance of the park, making it an ideal accommodation option for those who want to explore Villa Borghese and its surroundings.
Villa Doria Pamphili
Rome's largest park, consisting of 180 hectares and 9 km perimeter. Villa Doria Paphili, located in the south-east of the city, was the country residence of the Pamphili family and is now the representative seat of the Italian government. Described as a treasure chest of precious historical treasures, it consists of three parts: the palace and gardens (pars urbana), the pine forest (pars fructuaria), and the agricultural estate (pars rustica). Within the park runs a stream that flows into a lake, in the centre of which is an elliptical-shaped island. The famous gardens of the Villa Pamphili, built on orthogonal axes, are rich in hedges that draw green squiggles. A bloody battle of Garibaldi's troops against the French troops took place in the park, in which Goffredo Mameli was seriously wounded. As a result of the injuries sustained on that occasion, the father of our anthem lost his life.
Villa Torlonia
Located in the Nomentano district, Villa Torlonia also once belonged to the Pamphili family, but was later sold to Giovanni Torlonia, who transformed it from an agricultural property into a private residence. From 1925 to 1943 the villa was the home of the Mussolini family and from 1944 to 1947 the headquarters of the British and American command. The green areas within the park are organised like typical Italian gardens, while the Villino Rosso, the Villino Medievale and the famous Casina delle Civette - built in Art Nouveau style - are now used as museum and exhibition areas. In addition to several green areas for sports, Villa Torlonia also houses a theatre and a restaurant.
Villa Sciarra
One of Rome's urban villas. It is located between the Monteverde and Trastevere neighborhoods, leaning against the Gianicolensi walls.
The name comes from the ancient papal family of Sciarra and over the centuries the residence changed many owners. The last was the Wurts who gave it to Benito Mussolini. It was the Duce who later made it public by donating it to the Romans. The square at the main entrance is dedicated to the former owner George Wurst, who also had an aviary built inside the villa in which he bred white peacocks. Special features of the small Villa Sciarra are the fountains: the Belvedere fountain, the Fountain of the Satyrs, the Fountain of Diana and Endymion, the Fountain of the Putti, and the Fountain of the Sphinxes. Inside, between the paths, there is also a laurel hedge with 12 statues representing the 12 months of the year.
Villa Ada
Holm-oak woods, cork oaks, pine forests, dwarf palms, and lawns: the constitution of Villa Ada is typical and irregular of the English garden. Perhaps this is the favorite Roman park for sportsmen par excellence, given the multitude of gymnastic paths, the skating rink, the large green areas in which to practice yoga, and the paths for cycling. The lush vegetation is the main feature of Villa Ada, making it not only a suitable destination for fitness addicts, but also the natural habitat for large communities of birds, squirrels, hedgehogs, and wild rabbits. In the pre-Covid era, the park also hosted many music festivals and will hopefully soon be a venue for concerts and cultural events again.
Aqueduct Park
Perfect for those who enjoy long bike rides, the Aqueducts Park - one of Rome's green lungs - stretches from the Roman countryside to the Castelli suburbs. It owes its name to the fact that no less than seven aqueducts can be found here: the Anio Vetus, the Anio Novus, the Aqua Marcia, the Tepula, the Aquedotto Iulia, the Aqua Claudia and the Acquedotto Felice (the only one still functioning).
The majestic arches, which are still present, make the entire nature trail suggestive and fascinating, and when visiting it, one has the impression of walking through history.
Orange Garden
The lovers' park: Parco Savello, better known as the Orange Garden, is one of the most romantic parks in the capital despite being very small. It has the shape of a rectangle built around a central avenue. Orange trees (planted in memory of San Domenico) lead to the breathtaking belvedere that offers a wonderful view of the rooftops and the major monuments of Rome. A special feature is an optical effect one has on entering the park, similar to that one experiences when walking along the famous Via Piccolomini: as one approaches the terrace at the edge, the dome of St Peter's seems to shrink and recede. To the right of the Orange Garden is Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, famous for the famous lock from which it is possible to glimpse
Photo: ©sandrixroma / Shutterstock
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