Ninfa Garden: how to book the most beautiful garden in Italy

Updated on October 5, 2026

The Ninfa garden, at the foot of the Lepini Mountains about an hour's drive south of Rome, was planted in the 20th century among the ruins of an abandoned medieval town. Roses, wisteria, cherry trees and magnolias climb over roofless churches, towers and ramparts, and a clear stream runs through the whole site. It is run by the Roffredo Caetani Foundation and can only be visited with an online booking, on weekends and public holidays only, from March to November. The garden ticket costs €15.75; the Caetani Castle (€8.25) and the Pantanello park (€6) are separate visits. In 2026 the season runs until the weekend of 8 November.

Highlights

The ruins of the medieval town

Ninfa was a prosperous town in the Middle Ages before being abandoned. You can still see churches, the old town hall and a tower; vegetation has taken the place of the roofs.

Roses and wisteria

Rose bushes and wisteria climb the ruined walls. Flowering depends on the year, but spring (late April, May) is the most colourful period.

The stream and the bridges

The clear water of the Ninfa stream feeds a small lake, crossed by stone bridges and lined with willows, bamboo and swans.

The Caetani Castle

The medieval castle is visited separately, with its own ticket and by reservation.

The garden's trees

The garden brings together more than a thousand plant species from every continent, including maples whose autumn colours draw visitors in October.

Practical info

Tips

Online booking on the Foundation's official website is mandatory and each entry slot has a limited number of places: book as soon as sales open, especially for a spring weekend. Prices seen in October 2026: €15.75 for the garden, €8.25 for the Caetani Castle, €6 for the Pantanello park; free entry for under-12s accompanied by an adult is reported by the local press, so check when booking. The Foundation's call centre answers on Fridays from 2:00pm to 6:00pm and on opening days from 9:00am to 6:00pm. The visit follows dirt and grass paths: wear comfortable shoes, no heels. The garden opens only a few days a month: the Foundation publishes the dates each year. To combine Ninfa with other gardens in the region, read our guide to the most beautiful gardens around Rome.

How to get there

Fondazione Roffredo Caetani, via Appia km 66.400, Tor Tre Ponti, 04100 Latina (address given by the Foundation). Allow about an hour by road from Rome; a car is by far the simplest way. Public transport (regional train to Latina or Cisterna, then a taxi) is slow and impractical: check the connections before leaving, or choose an organised excursion from Rome. Our guide to driving and ZTL zones in Rome helps you leave the city by car.