Experience Autumn Blooms in Rome’s Municipal Rose Garden

From October 24 to November 10, 2024, the Municipal Rose Garden opens its gates to let visitors experience the magic of autumn blooms. Warm autumn light bathes this stunning garden in Rome, transforming it into a vibrant display of colors and captivating scents that create an atmosphere like no other.

🌹Open daily: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Municipal Rose Garden invites tourists, flower lovers, and anyone eager to witness one of the world’s most breathtaking rose collections.

Discover the Rose Garden’s Ancient Roots and Remarkable Views

Nestled along the slopes of Aventine Hill, the Rose Garden offers panoramic views that stretch across several iconic sites. From here, you can see the Circus Maximus, Palatine Hill, and the bell tower of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. The view also captures the dome of the Synagogue, the Vittoriano, and even the Monte Mario observatory. History steeped this spot with floral roots dating back to the 3rd century BC. According to the historian Tacitus, a temple dedicated to Flora, the goddess of flowers, once stood here. Each spring, festivities known as the “Floralia” would bloom near the Circus Maximus. Over the centuries, the land evolved from vegetable gardens and vineyards to become, by 1645, the “Jewish Garden,” even including a small cemetery for the Jewish community.

The Rose Garden’s Transformation and Symbolic Design

In 1934, Rome relocated the cemetery and designated the area as a public park. However, it wasn’t until 1950 that the park blossomed into the Municipal Rose Garden we know today. In tribute to its past, a stele at the entrance commemorates the garden’s legacy as a Jewish sacred ground. The garden’s pathways form the shape of a menorah, symbolizing its lasting connection to both Roman and Jewish history.

Explore Unique Rose Varieties in the Rose Garden

Today, the garden is home to approximately 1,100 rose species from around the world, including some truly unique varieties. Visitors can marvel at the fascinating Rosa Chinensis Virdiflora, with its distinctive green petals. The garden also displays the color-shifting Rosa Chinensis Mutabilis and the unusual Rosa Foetida, famous for its intense scent. The larger section of the garden showcases a paradise of botanical, ancient, and modern roses. Meanwhile, the lower section hosts roses competing for the prestigious Premio Roma, along with a collection of past winners dating back to the contest’s first edition in 1933.

✨ Best of all:  Entry is Free ✨

Explore this enchanting garden without any cost. You can also make a special stop here with our Private Golf Cart and Dolce Vita tours, immersing yourself in the blooms and beauty as part of your unforgettable journey through Rome!

rose garden