The Villa Borghese Garden is Rome's largest area of green space and is known as the most important. Inside the Villa Borghese resides a zoo, a Zoology museum and a gallery. The Borghese Garden covers an area of approximately 198 acres of land, and is divided into several distinct garden and park areas; the bulb garden, the war garden, the lake garden and the deer park. The Borghese gardens and parks are open daily to the public.
In 1858, the location of the gardens was first a humble vineyard. Later in the 1600s, it was purchased by Pope Paul V's nephew, the Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli Borghese, who built what he called his "pleasure palace." During the 19th century, it was the site for public events and festivals. In the 20th century, the villa and surrounding areas were purchased from the Borghese family by the Italian State, and donated to Rome's City Council.
Villa Borghese
Via Prenestina, 685
00155 Rome, Italy
+011-39-06-22582330
galleriaborghese.it
The Insugherata Nature Reserve lies along Rome's Via Cassia to the east, and the Triumphal Arch to the west. The reserve features ancient Roman villas, which are now archaeological sites, and a variety of vegetation such as, willow, poplar, hornbeam, flowering ash, chestnut, oak and maple trees. The most prevalent wood vegetation is the cork oak, for which the area gets its name. There are also numerous wildlife species that are only found along the Italian peninsula, like the spectacled salamander. Other animals at the reserve are hedgehogs, moles, porcupines, dormice, and nesting birds such as the kestrel, the pheasant, dove and the cuckoo. The dell'Insugherata Nature Reserve is managed by the Regional Agency for the Management of the System of Protected Natural Areas in the Municipality of Rome; an agency that is charged with the protection of over 37,000 acres of land in and around Rome.
Dell'Insugherata Nature Reserve
via Gomenizza 81
00195 Roma
+011-39-06-35405310
insugherata.com
The Vatican Gardens consist of an orchard (pomerium), a lawn (pratellum) and a garden (viridarium). The gardens were created in 1279 by Pope Nicholas the III, which he added to his new residence and wall at the Vatican. The garden, as a whole, is sectioned into several smaller gardens, which include ponds, fountains and a number of rare trees and exotic plants. The Vatican Gardens are open to the public for guided tours, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday during business hours.
Vatican Gardens
Palazzo del Governatorato
00120 Vatican City State,
Rome, Italy
+011-39-06-69885720
vaticanstate.va
