By Luisa Taliento
RONCIGLIONE: OTIUM IN LAZIO
These age-old trees were admired by the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cy Twombly and Nick Cave. These are just a few of the artists who loved coming here to relax and visit the Igliori family, who bought this historic property in the 1920s. This is a small privilege that today the Relais Villa Lina offers those who love botanical tourism and creative leisure, on an estate of over 170 acres in the heart of the Tuscia area (tel. +39 0761 625303, relaisvillalina.com). It has four different gardens: the garden of scents to relax amid roses and honeysuckle, the Italian garden created by the architect Raffaello De Vico, the eighteenth- century historic one, and the energy garden created in 2009 by the owner Paola Igliori, with benches so you can sit down and tap into the positive energy of the flora. From the relais, a garden route leads to the gardens of the Ruspoli Castle of Vignanello, those of the Landriana, designed by Sir Russell Page and the secret Hortus Unicorni at Civita di Bagnoregio.
AMALFI: SILENCE AND LEMON TREES
You walk barefoot on the lawn to the terraces overlooking the sea. No one knows what’s above or below. The ancient terracing technique created vertical green labyrinths protected by hedges, cultivated gardens, and pergolas laden with oranges and lemons that glisten like natural lamps under the blue skies of Amalfi. Hotel Santa Caterina is a floral hotel that is essentially visible only from the sea, set in the rocky cliff overlooking the water (tel. +39 089 871012, hotelsantacaterina.it). The hotel has become famous for its legendary privacy. People disappear into this green maze of suites, villas and chalets, with a heated infinity edge pool. What remains is the atmosphere of the romantic garden.
SCLAFAGNI BAGNI: SICILIAN SCENTS
There are no spectacular backdrops, interplays of perspective, visual tricks. The Tenuta Regaleali, in the hills southeast of Palermo, is the pure essence of Sicily, and this is also why it is part of the “Great Italian Gardens” circuit.
You can explore it on foot, by bike or on horseback, filling your lungs with the scent of oregano from the Iblei Mountains, basil from the Madonie, jasmine and Banks’ roses. It’s hard to resist picking fruit from the fig, medlar and quince trees, or tasting the grapes along the geometric rows of vines owned by the Tasca d’Almerita family.
Intense days are the prelude to pure relaxation at the iconic farm, which is still productive, and when you wake up in the morning you’ll get a taste of what is done every day in a country garden (tel. + 39 0921 544011, tascadalmerita.it).
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