Rome, Rose Scented at the parks
Once there was the ancient cemetery of the Jewish Community of Rome: today, on its foundation, is one of the most beautiful rose gardens in the world, covering an area of 10,000 hectares that are home to over a thousand species of roses from every corner of the world. The Roseto Comunale of Rome, in Via di Valle Murcia on the Aventine, was born in 1934 from an idea of a countess who suggested to the American Royal Commissioner Boncompagni Ludovisi to create a public garden in the Eternal City as the Jardins de Bagatelle in Paris.
Thus it was that the cemetery of the Jewish Community was moved to a field of Verano and implanted in its place rose garden if you look at it from above, still the paths of the garden in the shape of a menorah, the seven-branched candlestick symbol the Jewish religion. This is why the Roman Spring transforms a living in a fairy tale: visit the rose garden in this period actually means entering a world of botanical roses, ancient and modern, and the history and evolution of the rose antiquity to the present day .
Are 1200 species of roses present, some of which also come from China and Mongolia. Among the rarest varieties and pride of the collection include the Rosa Chinensis virdiflora, a tiny Chinese rose petals in green, the Rosa chinensis mutabilis, which changes color with each passing day, the Rosa foetida, a rose by ‘ looks beautiful but musty smelling and the Rose omeiensis pteracantha, with wing-shaped thorns that appear against the incredibly transparent: the latter is presented with a flower with four petals instead of five.
All plants in the rose garden, except those who take part in the international competition Premio Roma, have a label with the specifications of the name of the variety, country of origin, category and year. There are also the ones whose name was inspired by celebrities, such as Victor Hugo, Karen Blixen, Jacques Prevert, Federico Garcia Lorca, Niccolò Paganini, Botticelli and Rembrandt as well as film actors Philippe Noiret and Ornella Muti.
The area where stands the Tree houses other treasures to discover: continuing the walk on the Aventine, in fact, meet the Church of Santa Sabina, the church of Santi Bonifacio e Alessio and the famous Orange Garden, a name that indicates Park Savelli , where you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the capital.
The name of the garden derives from the characteristic presence of numerous bitter orange trees. A little further reveals a secret that not all visitors know: the palace of the Priory of the Knights of Malta, located in the square, it is often the destination of people peering through the keyhole. This is because, in a perspective of tunnel formed by an avenue of trees specially cut, you can see the dome of St. Peter’s as if it were framed in a picture frame from perfect.
For those who want to continue to enjoy the panoramic views of Rome’s most beautiful one suggestion is stay at ‘Hotel Capo d’Africa (Via Capo d’Africa 54, tel: 06/772.801; www.hotelcapodafrica.com), a gem of classic style contemporary-which is not far away, near the Colosseum, with a beautiful terrace. It is a charming boutique hotel offering a quiet luxury classic soul, ideal as a starting point for visiting the center of Rome.
A stop cooking with excellent local cuisine in a restaurant full of history and tradition could be to Naumachia (Via Celimontana 7, tel: 06/7002764; www.naumachiaroma.com), where gricia pasta, carbonara, amatriciana, cheese and pepper, lamb and cut meat are a must.
Information Roseto Comunale di Roma
Opening up to June 16, every day including holidays, from 8:30 to 19:30 with free admission.
For further information and tour bookings seeker free tel: 06/5746810
