A group of 26 members went to visit  gardens in  Rome and the local area.  Italian gardens are traditionally very formal with a lot of statuary, fountains and a Grand Vista.

Our first visit was to The Vatican Garden which was also a history lesson with so many statues of saints and former popes and stories of the past.  We had wonderful views of Rome and also got to see the Sistine Chapel.

La Landriana was the exception to the standard Italian Garden rules, with a more casual approach; this garden was like some Irish gardens with thirty different ‘garden rooms’.  Our guide happened to be a lady from Malahide which was a nice connection.

Ninfa – known as the ‘City of Dreams’ – is one of Europe’s most beautiful gardens.  Situated among the ruins of a medieval village at the foot of the Lepini Mountains, it certainly lived up to all expectations with its gorgeous vistas and naturalistic scenes.

Villa d’Este in Tivoli is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with spectacular waterworks.  Ancient, gravity-fed waterworks feed over five hundred water jets and fountains, pools and water troughs in an incredibly impressive experience.

Villa Lante in Bagnaia is a smaller, more tranquil version of Villa d’Este.  Parts of this garden have existed in some form since the 16th century and there was a real sense of walking in the past.

The last day we visited Borghese Park and Gallery.