A stroll through gardens is one of the best moments of pause that you can undertake during your travels. Immersing yourself in greenery, admiring the different blooms and scenery that surrounds you, while admiring the various landscape designs can be culturally and mentally enriching. Take a browse through these ten gardens to visit during your next trip to Italy, and make sure to jot them down – you can thank us later.

Villa Pallavicino, stresa, lago maggiore

Along Lake Maggiore, in Stresa, lies Villa Pallavicino, a former private residence of a Neapolitan statesman Ruggero Bonghi. There followed the transfer of ownership to the Duke of Vallombrosa and in 1862 the purchase by the noble Genoese Pallavicino family, who transformed it from a simple dwelling into the splendid nineteenth-century neoclassical-style villa that still stands on the hill today. In the mid 20th century, the family opened their marvellous garden to the public, sharing the beauty with those who embrace it. There’s a zoo, with over 50 animal species, a colorful garden, with an abundance of flowers in bloom from April to September and a number of plants and centuries old trees.

Villa d’Este, Cernobbio, lago di como

Spanning over ten hectares, the gardens of the 16th century Villa d’Este are a perfect example of Baroque landscape design in Italy. The landscape is a curated composition of lush greenery, vibrant flowerbeds, and towering ancient trees, interspersed with classical statues, fountains and terraces that seep into the lake. An abundance of colours and scents accompany the visitor throughout each season, treasuring some of the most beautiful species of flora in our country.

Villa Arconati, Milano, Lombardia

Villa Arconati’s golden age intertwines with the Arconati family, who owned it for two centuries, beginning with Galeazzo Arconati’s purchase in 1610. A lover of art and architecture, Galeazzo transformed the villa, introducing Roman elements, classical and modern sculptures, and water features inspired by Leonardo da Vinci. Subsequent generations, including Luigi Maria and Giuseppe Maria Arconati, expanded and refined the villa until Giuseppe Antonio Arconati enhanced the estate with influences from Versailles. The Busca family inherited the villa in 1772, preserving it until the 20th century. Fast forward to 2011, when the Villa and its gardens became the headquarters of the Augusto Rancilio Foundation, dedicated to restoring and showcasing this historic site. It finally opened to the public in 2015, offering tours, events, conferences and conventions, and hosting the Villa Arconati Festival.

Giardini Hanbury, Liguria

These botanical gardens stretch across 18 hectares near Ventimiglia in Liguria Ponente, close to the boarders with France. Founded in 1867 by Sir Thomas Hanbury, this natural haven preserve and showcase over 6000 species of plants including rare and endangered ones. Open throughout the year, there is always something in bloom, creating a colourful carpet that seep out towards the mediterranean sea in the backdrop. Occasionally, the Palazzo Hanbury hosts art exhibitions and, during the summer, there’s a series of performances, concerts, aperitifs and stargazing events – so keep your eyes peeled on the website.WEBSITE

Villa Marigola, Lerici, Liguria

Built on a promontory overlooking the Gulf of Lerici, opposite the splendid castle and with views of Portovenere and the islands of Tino and Palmaria, Villa Marigola is a late 18th-century gem. Fascinated by the Gulf of Poets, the English populated the area, from Shelley to Byron, Keats, and later D.H. Lawrence. It was the English banker Sir Reginald Pearse who gave the garden its current layout, which was slightly revised in the 1930s by architect Franco Oliva. There is an elegant parterre with a view of the Lerici Castle, all framed by cypress and magnolia trees.

Villa Torrigiani di Camigliano, Lucca, Toscana

A villa that truly takes your breath away as you walk through the perfectly trimmed gardens inspired by the gardens of Versailles. Two striking rows of cypress trees, almost one kilometre long, lead to the majestic villa and its impressive baroque façade. It traces back to the 16th century with the Buonvisi family and has since then preserved a some original aspects of the traditional “Lucchese” aristocratic villa such as the direct line of vision from the living room to the grand entrance gate. In the late 17th century however the villa underwent a few landscape transformations with its acquisition by Marquis Nicolao Santini, ambassador of the Republic of Lucca at the court of Louis XIV at Versailles. He incorporated a bloom-filled garden, trimmed hedges and impressive ornamental pools designed akin to Le Nôtre’s projects for the Palace of Versailles. He also created the Flora Theatre, an ornate garden which metaphorically extends into the villa, depicted in perfectly preserved frescoes by Pietro Scorzini. Marvel at the ornate interiors and take a leisurely stroll around the palatial gardens where you can embody the life of a 16th century aristocrat.

Castello di celsa, siena, toscana

In front of the Castello di Celsa, built at the beginning of the 13th century and later expanded and restored by architect Baldasarre Peruzzi in the 16th century, lies the Italian-style garden, characterised by a meticulous division of spaces through tree-lined rows and hedges and plant sculptures. These green tinted flowerbeds replicate the Aldobrandini family crest; after World War II, Luisa Aldobrandini, grandmother of the current owners and a passionate and knowledgeable gardener, planted the cypress hedge leading to the fishpond and restored the formal design of the Italian garden’s flowerbeds. At the foot of the tallest tower of the Castle lies the 16th-century chapel designed by Baldassarre Peruzzi, a renowned painter, architect, and set designer from the early 1500s.

Giardino di Ninfa, Lazio

Built on the ruins of the medieval city of Ninfa, in the Pontine countryside, near Latina, it is one of the most beautiful and romantic gardens in the world. The name Ninfa derives from a Roman temple dedicated to the Naiad Nymphs, divinity of spring waters, located in the current garden. In the fourteenth century, the city of Ninfa was destroyed and in the nineteenth century the garden was finally built in the Anglo-Saxon style, reclaiming the marshes, planting cypresses, oaks, beeches, and restoring some ruins, including the baronial palace.

Giardini Pistola, Fasano, Puglia

The award-winning Pistola Gardens are a fantastic place to visit in Valle d’Itria, Puglia. Enjoy four hectares of beautiful terraced gardens and flower-framed pergolas, order a glass of wine to savour at sunset surrounded by the stunning view of the Canale Di Pirro or take a stroll through the Farm Shop, where you can purchase a variety of local products.