EUROPE
Planning your trip to Rome's gardens
THE BEST WAY TO ITALY'S GARDENS
From LAX, Alitalia flies nonstop, United flies direct (stop, no change of planes) and Delta, Lufthansa, Air France, British, US Airways, Swiss and Continental offer connecting service. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $796.
TELEPHONES
To call the numbers listed below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 39 (country code for Italy) and the local number.
THE GARDENS
Ninfa, 07-73-69-54-04, is about 45 miles southeast of Rome by way of the Pontina (SS 148), near the hill town of Sermoneta. It is open the first weekend of the month from April to October, with additional opening dates in the summer. Get tickets before you go, at the Palazzo Caetani, 32 Via delle Botteghe Oscure, Rome, 06-68-73-056.
Villa Landriana, 51 Campo di Carne, Tor San Lorenzo, 06-91-01-41-40, www.aldobrandini.it, is near the beach town of Ardea, about 25 miles south of Rome by way of the Pontina. Guided visits only, arranged in advance.
Villa Lante, 07-61-28-80-08, is in the village of Bagnaia, about an hour's drive north of Rome. Open Tuesdays through Sundays.
WHERE TO STAY
Near Ninfa
Hotel Principle Serrone, Via del Serrone, Sermoneta, 07-73-30-342, www.hotelprincipeserrone.it. Simple rooms with excellent views; doubles start about $120, including breakfast.
Near Villa Landriana
Corte in Fiore, 16 Via degli Olivi, Ardea, 06-91-64-80-15, www.corteinfiore.com. About five miles from the coast. Doubles start around $67 per person, including breakfast.
Near Villa Lante
L'Ombricolo, Civitella d'Agliano, 07-61-91-47-35, www.lombricolo.com. A beautiful six-bedroom country house. Doubles start at $162.
Balletti Park Hotel, 2 Via Umbria, San Martino al Cimino; 07-61-37-71, www.balletti.com. A modern resort hotel outside Viterbo starting about $90 per person, including breakfast.
WHERE TO EAT
About five miles south of Ninfa, the hill town of Sermoneta has several good restaurants, including Al Castello, 7 Via della Fortezza, Sermoneta, which often has a three-course tourist menu (about $30, including wine).
Around Villa Lante are two good choices: Ristorante Gino al Miralago, 58 Lungolago G. Marconi, Marta, 07-61-87-09-10, a terrific place for fresh fish (about $35 per person, not including wine); and Hostaria del Ponte, Bagnoregio, 07-61-79-35-65, www.hostariadelponte.it, known for homemade pasta (about $35 per person, not including wine).
Near Villa Landriana, the restaurant at the Corte in Fiore (above) cooks with produce from the farm next door ($25 to $30 per person, not including wine).
TO LEARN MORE
Italian Government Tourist Board; (310) 820-1898, www.italiantourism.com.
The American Horticultural Society, 7931 E. Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308, (800) 777-7931, www.ahs.org, sometimes offers travel study tours in Italy, including the Gardens of Florence, scheduled for May 22 through 30.
Grandi Giardini Italiani, 6 Piazza Cavour, 22060 Cabiate, 031-75-62-11, www.grandigiardini.it, has information about some of Italy's best gardens.
Secret Gardens Italy, (310) 492-5110, www.secretgardensitaly.com, offers tours of gardens in and around Rome.
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