A common question when planning a trip to Italy is: “When is the Best Time to Visit?”
The truth be told, Italy is a wonderful place to be all year round, however in the spring time with everything in bloom and the smell of the air alive with the scent of roses, cherry blossoms, fresh grasses and fresh breeze rolling over the hills, the spring time is by far one of the very best times.
Italy is a country synonymous with beauty. Geographically, Italy occupies one of the most unique and interesting territories of earth on the planet; a volcanic peninsula surrounded by three different seas: The Mediterranean, Ionian and Adriatic. Natural spring waters abound because of it’s volcanic nature and from North to South, geographically and naturally Italy offers amazing sites at every corner. Fast running and beautiful rivers carve through some of the highest mountain ranges in the world and make way to waterfalls and gorgeous plains of flowers and grass. The hill-top towns and low-lying villages all symmetrically formed, seem to fit into perfect harmony with the nature.
Below, we have put together a list of some of the most beautiful areas in Italy to visit during the spring months, where you can experience many of Italy’s natural wonders for free:
The Val D’Orcia – Located in South-Eastern Tuscany
The Val D’Orcia is without a doubt one of the most beautiful regions in Tuscany and yet surprisngly it is often one of the least visited or explored by travelers coming to Italy. For this reason, in so many ways it is still one of the most authentic and filled with numerous natural wonders just waiting to be explored. Particularly in springtime, the Val D’Orcia with its green grasses, natural gardens, thermal springs and gorgeous hill-top towns that give way to valleys of endless green, the Val D’Orcia a in south-eastern Tuscany is a magical oasis for nature lovers, photographers and those wanting to experience Tuscany in its most authentic and natural form.
In this area you can visit: Montalcino (one of the top-wine producing areas in Tuscany also home to one of Tuscany’s most ancient churches – Sant’Antimo) or you can visit Pienza, Montalcino or the natural thermal springs found at the San Fillipo natural springs or Bagno Vignoni.
The Ninfe Gardes (Giardini Ninfe) – Just South of Rome (Lazio Region)
Just south of Rome, in the province of Latina one of the most over-looked and yet most beautiful gardens in Italy are the Ninfa gardens. Perhaps one of the world’s most romantic gardens with an incredible history, in the spring time, everything is coming to life here!
Truly a remarkable place, akin to what some what might consider the garden of Eden for when you enter you feel as though you are in a sacred place, which it is. The gardens are named ‘Ninfa’ referring to the Nymphes, goddesses, seductresses of love. When you enter here, there is no doubt that it is other-worldly. Though what comes as a surprise to most that these gardens run over an ancient Roman town and ancient Roman ruins are scattered throughout the immense garden works.
The Cinque Terre National Park, Located in Liguria
The Cinque Terre national park is a spectacular place to visit year round, however the spring time is when it really comes alive and is in our opinion the best time of year to visit the 5 lands because everything is so green, the flowers are blooming and it’s not as hot as it is in the summer or as dry as it is in the fall!
The Island of Ischia is located in the bay of Naples is considered by Italians to be like the “Hawaii” of the Mediterranean. It’s a completely tropical and magical island covered with natural hot-springs and natural thermal waters that have incredible health benefits. Our spa package to the island of Ischia departs from Rome and includes wonderful meals and access to fantastic spas.
Mondello is located in the region of Sicily and is a tropical paradise of sorts with fine white sand beaches, lush Mediterranean forest and gorgeous gardens. Just outside of Sicily’s largest city, Palermo, this town seems to be a world away… .and makes a great base for exploring western Sicily .
The Gardens of Ravello, on Italy’s Amalfi Coast
Ravello is an absolutely beautiful town located on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, high above the coast, this town boasts some of the most beautiful gardens in Italy and the best time to visit here is in the spring-time, when everything is in bloom!
Lake Como and the Gardens Around the Lake
Lake Como is located in Italy’s Northern Lake District and offers visitors here spectacular scenery with the high mountains offering a spectacular back-drop for Italy’s third largest lake.
What many people don’t know when coming to the lake district is that there is a micro-climate here and the gardens here have incredible plant species. The Villa Balbianello is one of the lake’s most beautiful gardens (although there are many others). Definitely a MUST SEE when visiting Lake Como!
