Orto Botanico di Roma

Spreading across the slopes of the Janiculum Hill above Trastevere, the Orto Botanico belongs to Sapienza University and houses over 3,500 plant species across 12 hectares. Japanese gardens, a rose garden, medicinal herb collections, and a section of plants native to the Lazio region are spread across terraced gardens connected by shaded paths.

The bamboo grove and the section of ancient trees — some hundreds of years old — are particularly atmospheric. A 17th-century fountain by Carlo Fontana sits near the entrance. In summer, the garden provides genuine relief from the heat of the city; in spring, it explodes in color. Entry is inexpensive and the garden is rarely crowded even on weekends.