Reason #5,357 to love Rome – The Rose Garden

Every spring I make a point to visit Rome’s lovely Rose Garden (Roseto Comunale di Roma).  The garden’s location is perfect – on the Aventine Hill with stunning views over the Circus Maximus and the Palatine Hill.

Yet a short stroll in this oasis of tranquility is an enjoyable respite from the hectic pace of the city surrounding it.

I always suggest a visit to the rose garden to visitors exploring the Eternal City and looking for some moments of tranquility. Bring along a sandwich or a good book and relax – just like the locals – on one of the garden’s many benches.

The lower rose garden hosts the competition roses each year. Each May, roses sent from all over the world are entered into the competition; the winners each year are planted permanently in the garden. There’s even a children’s competition in which grade schools compete.

The rose garden has a small but interesting section dedicated to roses that would have been known in the Ancient World; a plaque explains the importance of roses to the Ancient Romans and in which parts of the Empire they were grown.

In Ancient Rome, opulent Roman banquets would often end with rose petals showered down from the ceilings and onto the guests below.

Enjoy history, beauty and relaxation all in one visit. If you’re visiting Rome in the spring or summer, be sure to make a point to visit the beautiful rose garden.