Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
13 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
13 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
14 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
15 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Doganella di Ninfa Gardens of Ninfa

Gardens of Ninfa

Ruins of a 10th century church tucked away deep in a botanical garden.

Doganella di Ninfa, Italy

Added By
canary
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

What now stands as an enchanting English garden in the Roman countryside was once a small agricultural town founded under the Roman Empire, passed through the ages from Pope Pasquale II in the 12th century to the Frangipane family and later to the Colonna family in 1293.

What you see today was started in 1921 by Gelasio Caetani and his mother Ada Wilbraham, who had already founded a botanical garden in Fogliano and who would bring diverse species back to this garden from her various travels. Its particular, favorable climate – humid and consistent – is regulated by the river Ninfa and the nearby cliffs, which trap low-lying fog and cause frequent rain showers.

Among the various treasures to be found in the gardens are the ruins of a 10th-century church (Santa Maria Maggiore) complete with 12th-century frescos, a picturesque river complete with crystal-clear water and ancient bridges, and a plethora of plants from around the globe. Among the vegetal varietals you can find an American walnut tree, a number of decorative apple trees, red Japanese maples, yucca, yellow begonias, orchids, cherry trees, lavender pathways, Himalayan and Mexican pines and miniature pomegranates.

Whether you are a botanist, bio-diversity expert or Roman/medieval history buff, these gardens will surely excite the inner dreamer in you, bringing the English fascination for ruins and gardens to life.

Visits are allowed only with a tour guide. Tours depart every 10 minutes and are guaranteed even in case of fog and/or rain.

Related Tags

Botanical Gardens Ruins Horticulture Plants

Know Before You Go

The Gardens are only open April through November.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

kkcanary

Edited By

arenquinha, drazsika

  • arenquinha
  • drazsika

Published

April 3, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Gardens of Ninfa
Via Provinciale Ninfina, 68
Doganella di Ninfa, 04013
Italy
41.57247, 12.927364
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Abbazia di Valvisciolo (Valvisciolo Abbey)

Sermoneta, Italy

miles away

Temple of the Dioscuri

Cori, Italy

miles away

Temple of Hercules

Cori, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Abbazia di Valvisciolo (Valvisciolo Abbey)

Sermoneta, Italy

miles away

Temple of the Dioscuri

Cori, Italy

miles away

Temple of Hercules

Cori, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Related Places

  • Inside the greenhouse.

    San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

    El Charco del Ingenio (The Mill Puddle)

    This botanical garden boasts sculptures, industrial ruins, and an endorsement from the Dalai Lama.

  • Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden.

    Los Angeles, California

    Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden

    This “living museum” at UCLA exhibits thousands of plant species from all over the world.

  • Varaždin Cemetery.

    Varaždin, Croatia

    Varaždin Cemetery

    Trimmed trees grow alongside the graves like topiary tombstones.

  • John Bartram’s garden house.

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Bartram's Garden

    The oldest surviving botanic garden in the United States.

  • The Kampong, Miami, Florida

    Miami, Florida

    The Kampong

    This beautiful Miami garden was designed as a laboratory for tropical plants.

  • Hortus Botanicus Leiden

    Leiden, Netherlands

    Hortus Botanicus Leiden

    A 'living museum' in Leiden, the oldest of its kind in the Netherlands.

  • Longwood Gardens.

    Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

    Longwood Gardens

    This palatial botanical garden is home to one of the largest pipe organs ever installed in a private residence, and a piece of Wood's cycad.

  • Yonkers, New York

    Untermyer Park

    America's greatest forgotten garden and the former stomping grounds of Son of Sam.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.