Gardens and surroundings: two weekends of art, nature and flavours in Tuscia

PromoCulture presents “Giardini e Dintorni”, a four-stop event combining art, landscapes and taste, with engaging experiences in contact with the territory and the aim of promoting local products. Two September weekends to discover the authentic beauty of Tuscia, among secret gardens, nature trails, sculptures and historic residences.

Saturday 20 September – La Serpara Garden, Civitella d’Agliano. The first stop is in Civitella d’Agliano, between Orvieto and Viterbo, where Swiss artist Paul Wiedmer created a singular garden of contemporary sculptures. With over 80 works in iron, stone, glass and wood, La Serpara is a perfect balance of creativity and landscape: the sculptures are not on pedestals but grow among the vegetation. The experience is enriched by a tasting of local wines and typical products.

Sunday 21 September – Natural History Museum, Lubriano. The second day is in Lubriano, overlooking the Valle dei Calanchi, at the Natural History Museum. The trail “Of waters, flowers, fruits and edible herbs” guides visitors among historic wash-houses, fountains, an old water mill and themed panels on biodiversity, wild herbs and beekeeping. Again, the visit ends with a wine tasting.

Saturday 27 September – Villa Giustiniani, Bassano Romano. The second weekend opens with the special opening of Villa Giustiniani, an early-17th-century Mannerist-Baroque masterpiece conceived as a meeting place of culture and aristocracy. Famous for hosting the filming of La Dolce Vita and The Leopard, the villa preserves splendid frescoed rooms, an 18th-century wooden theatre and a 23-hectare historic park inspired by English and French gardens. The tour ends with a guided tasting of local wines and cheeses.

Sunday 28 September – Garden of Palazzo Chigi, Soriano nel Cimino. The festival closes in style at Soriano nel Cimino, in the monumental garden of Palazzo Chigi, among the most elegant in Tuscia. Laid out over terraced levels, it blends architecture and landscape; its centrepiece is the striking Papacqua Fountain, a Baroque masterpiece of hydraulic architecture. The experience ends with a tasting of wines paired with fine cheeses.