Just 20 minutes from Villa Vacanze Valentina, on the edge of Viterbo, Villa Lante di Bagnaia is considered one of the most beautiful Italian Renaissance gardens in the world — and one of Tuscia's best-kept secrets.
What to expect from your visit
The complex takes about 1.5 hours to visit: two twin palazzinas set in a terraced garden where the water descends from basin to basin through the celebrated Catena d'Acqua (Water Chain), the Fontana dei Giganti (Fountain of the Giants) and the theatrical Fontana del Quadrato (Fountain of the Square). The ticket costs just a few euros and the park is open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday.
A Renaissance masterpiece
The garden was designed in the mid-16th century, in all likelihood by Vignola, for Cardinal Gambara. Unlike the villas of Rome, the star here is not the palace but the garden itself: a symbolic journey where nature and architecture merge with a perfection that leaves you speechless.
Perfect for...
Art and photography lovers, couples after an elegant stroll, families who want a quiet afternoon. Pair it with a visit to the medieval village of Bagnaia, just outside the gates.