Landriana Garden

When the Marquis Gallarati Scotti wanted a country place to relax away from the city in 1956, he chose a piece of land near Torvainica and Ardea, south of Rome. Problem was, the land was barren and still infested with land mines and bomb casings from the Allied landings just to the south at Anzio. He and his wife, Lavinia Taverna, cleaned it up and Lavinia started planting pines and eucalyptus trees to shade the house. A friend gave her seeds and she started planting, and a passion grew. She turned into a gardener and discovered that things grew well in her spacious park. But then she came to the realization that she was planting without a plan - there was no formal order or layout to the garden.

Her friend Count Donato Sanminiatelli had transformed his property, San Liberato, near Lake Bracciano into a proper garden and recommended his English landscape architect, Russell Page. The garden was given a design and while some of the plants have been swapped for other through the years, the overall plan designed by Page is still followed.

Just a short distance south of Rome you'll find a botanical oasis of lawns, manicured hedges, flower-lined paths and stairs, a tulip garden, a rose valley, and tree-shaded walks. There is a rose valley, a pretty pond, and other water fountains and pools. The garden occupies 10 hectares and is a joy to visit. Special events can be organized here, as well.

The garden is open from the end of March through the beginning of November.

HOURS: From 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM in Spring and Fall.
From 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM in Summer.

Visit the garden's website for more information.