In Italy, culture goes hand in hand with nature. The 'borghi' are 'piu belli' because of their location in the surrounding landscape. The landscape itself has been shaped by man over decades with endless vineyards and sunflower fields, with olive groves and winding roads lined with cypress trees. Villas are often painted with frescoes that draw in the surrounding landscape. And the villas themselves sparkle with the beautiful gardens that surround them. The work of man and the work of nature merge, creating a timeless beauty.
A number of spectacular villas and gardens can be admired in the vicinity of Casa Trasimonte.
For a traditional rennaisance garden, visit the Villa Lante in Bagnaia (Lazio). Villa Lante was built in the second half of the 16th century. It takes its name from its seventeenth-century owner Ippolito Lante Montefeltro della Rovere, Count of Bomarzo. Designed in geometric boxwood motifs, the gardens are adorned with numerous water features and fountains. Ideal for cooling off in summer.
Near villa Lante are also the monster gardens of Bomarzo (parco dei mostri). This is a wooded area where grotesque statues referring to mythical figures from antiquity are everywhere. It is therefore very nice to explore this garden with children.
Of more recent date, but no less fascinating is the La Scarzuola complex in Montegiove (Montegabbione, Umbria). In 1957, Milanese architect Tomaso Buzzi transformed an abandoned 13th-century monastery site, where references to Francis of Assisi can still be found, into an extraordinary architectural complex with accompanying garden. Buzzi built his own version of 'la città ideale' here. The tour starts on the courtyard garden of the original monastery and then continues through the garden with sometimes 'Harry Potter-like allure'. It is a succession of hidden doors, mirror squares, spiral staircases and sundials. This garden is therefore very suitable to visit with children.
A particularly beautiful garden is this one at La Foce in Chianciano Terme (Tuscany). It is located on a hill overlooking Val d'Orcia. The most characteristic pictures of Tuscany were taken here: grain-covered hills (Crete Senesi) intersected by winding cypress-lined 'strade bianche'. The final scene of the Dutch programme '20 years De Mol' was shot in the 'labyrinth' of this garden. This series started in the nearby authentic borgo Monticchiello. The landscape in this region is protected as a Unesco World Heritage Site. A new picture awaits behind every bend. There is no getting bored here.
If you don't feel like going out, you can of course spend a day in Casa Trasimonte's garden. There are several shaded areas overgrown with fragrant roses or jasmine. The flowerbeds are overgrown with lavender, thyme, rosemary and mint. And to cool down, you can of course make a splash in the pool, overlooking Lake Trasimeno. And towards evening it is time for the aperitif on the terrace in front of the house in the light of the setting sun. And when the evening falls, it is lovely to watch the lights of the towns around the lake with a glass of limoncello. When everything is quiet again, all you hear is the occasional owl and deer rustling in the bushes.
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