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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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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. 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. 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.
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