Top 6 Types of Gardens in Italy | Horticulture

This article throws light upon the top six types of gardens in Italy. The types are: 1. Roman Gardens 2. Medieval and Early Humanist Gardens 3.  Tuscan Gardens, 4. Roman Renaissance Gardens 5. Gardens of Marche and Veneto 6. Gardens of Northern Italy.

Type # 1. Roman Garden:

The Greek culture and gardens spread in Mediterranean and far beyond area after Alexander’s conquest was introduced. In Greece, as in Italy, springs and groves of trees had long been dedicated to the gods and temples especially with the deities of nature and fertility. Most famous of these was a park dedicated to Artemis sister of Apollo (sun) at Scilleus.

Through their early religious association had now been practically submerged by artistic and social ones, never the less, the component parts of gardens remained the same. The small temple grottoes and nympherems that had originally been shrines dedicated to Muses and Tutelary deities now served as architectural ornaments.

One interesting feature appears to have added i.e. Topia, portraying its garden architecture in a picturesque setting of rigged mountains and sea side cliffs or on the shore of lakes and rivers. Topia were used to decorate walls of porticos and thus producing the effect of bringing the garden right inside building. It became a distinctive feature of Roman and Renaissance gardens.

The fashion of pleasure was spreading slowly and it provided link between Greece and Rome. Most of early villas and pleasure garden were situated between Rome and Naples near seaside as resorts of Formica and Terracina.

These villas resembled those of Pompeian gardens which were of two kinds either a country and garden in the colonnade peristyle of the house where plants were kept in pots or vases or small beds surroundings a pool, or in houses where there is small central courtyard, a portico opens into the garden behind the house.

In some cases portico is prolonged and closed from two or three sides. Roman gardens drew the inspiration from such gardens like interpenetration of houses and gardens and the axial planning. Main living room usually opened into courtyard on one side and garden and axial planning on the other side and linking the two. One could see the center length form the entire of the house. Apart from paintings and miniature reproduction of landscapes, the Greek word Topia was also used in a Latinized from Topiaries to designate gardener who practiced the art of topiary.

The choice of the site for a villa was given a utmost importance, not only for aesthetic considerations such as view but considerations for health, comfort, sun and wind were given. Thus, one of the main reasons for the choice of a south eastern aspect was that low winter sun would shine into colonnade porticos that formed an important part of Roman villas and garden.

These porticos which were called as gymnasia were in Roman gardens only as sheltered walks. Usually they were situated on terraces so that owner could see the view while coming down. Collection of paintings and sculptures formed an integral part of Roman gardens.

The Great Roman Pleasure villa was in-fact self-supporting entity where they grew fruits, vegetables flowers and animals like goat, deer, ducks, Pigeons and thrushes were also bred for eating. Thickets of trees and berry bearing bushes’ specially planted to attract wild song birds for nesting, fish ponds and aviaries also existed.

The most celebrated and extensive landscape garden of Rome were those of Nero’s Golden House: The garden has an enormous pool, more like a sea which was surround by building made to resemble deities and a landscape garden consisting of ploughed fields, vineyards, pastures and woodland where every variety of domestic and wild animal roamed.

It has been described that its wonders was not customary and common luxuries like gold and jewels but were its lawn, lakes, woods, open spaces and view. Nero’s architecture outbid nature. With the passage of time, Italy and Western Europe entered into dark age. The Renaissance brought human delight in gardens and two fabulous pleasure gardens with statues of heroes and monsters were made with stony gorges of ciminion hills.

Type # 2. Medieval and Early Humanist Gardens:

During this period gardening was limited to cultivations of medicinal herbs in pots and flowers for decoration of churches. The plantation of preserved monasteries depict the growing of flowers like roses, gladioli, lilies, amongst scented herbs like rosemary, sage, and vegetable like leeks, lettuce, garlic parsley, were grown.

During this era garden was portrayed in medieval miniature as a grass plot with a fountains in the middle surrounded by a herbs like sage, basil, marjorum, mint and occasional lilies and roses. Turf seats were shaded by vine pergola and sweet scented trees of apples, pears, pomegranate and cypress planted around the well.

The second stage had a large orchard and a trellis arbour and was to be fenced around with white sweet briar roses and other prickly shrubs with an outer hedge, of pomegranate, in hotter climate whereas quince and hazel trees in colder parts. The art of clipping of trees to make battlement walls of greenery the garden was followed. Enclosures and bowers of trees planted and trained in such a way that their interlaced branches formed entire walls and roof.

Though most of medieval gardens vanished and found in miniatures medieval manuscripts and in rare frescoes such as ‘Triumph and Death’ and the ‘Garden of Eden’ in the Campo Santo at Pisa. But one such pleasure garden survived in 13th century Palazzo Rufdo at Revello.

The 14th century was the period of transitions in Northern Italy. Castles began- to evolve into Pleasure Palaces. Galeazzo Visconti II of Milan, who was a keen botanist and collected lot of plants. It was the famous ‘Castle Pavia’ that Galeazzo began to build and where Petrarch stayed with him for successive five summers.

The Pavia castle was planned as pleasure garden with revolutionary design with an extensive garden and collection of plants reflected that Galeazzo was a patron of art which were the features of humanist gardens of the next century. Though it was walled and designed like a medieval castle and its main features were such as fish ponds, central lawn, pergolas and fruit trees. Thus ‘Pavia castle’ is claimed to be first Renaissance villa of Northern Italy.

Cosimo de ‘Medici’ who used to invite his friends in garden at his villa to discuss the Philosophy and influenced the European civilization for next 200 years. Cosimo’s brother Giovanni de Bicci in 1417, got transformed his old castellated house with changing spirit of time and got planted with box, cypress, myrtle, pomegranate, quince, lavender, scented herbs and flowers.

The intimate classical relation between house and garden was revived under the direction of Albert in 1446. Apart from Loggias linking it to the garden, rooms where also painted with garden subject such as garlands, and fountains.

Paths were to be bordered with symmetrically planted flowering trees such as pomegranate and cornelian cherries garlanded with roses, box and scented herbs. There were the other charming habits of ancients like to follow geometrical designs or to write the name of owner. Vine pergolas, supported by marble columns, planted with Juniperous, myrtle, oaks, cypresses garlanded with ivy.

The importance and aspects of gardens in the mind of 15th century humanist has been described by Francesco Colonna in 1467. There was a rose garden planted by a humanist with rose named by Pliny. The Damascene, Pernestine, Companion, Milesean, Lychman and roses of Paestum of classical fame. This was surrounded by priestly garden whose Corinthian columns strike a truly renaissance note in garden design planted by scented shrubs, marjoram, lavender box, juniperous, small myrtle clipped in various shapes grown in antique vases and pots.

In this era, the planting of parterres had become a highly developed art. The use of knots in scented herbs whose contrasting tones of green would have decorated colorful flowers was common. These shrubs had to be clipped constantly and replanted every three years, if they have not become shaggy. It is evident that trained gardeners must have been available at that time.

Interesting aspect of the gardens was the architectural setting of Amphitheatre and peristyle gardens with antique reliefs, statues, herms altars used as garden ornaments. The architectural exploitation of a sloping site was a third dimension in gardens. Thus the early gardens of the quarto-cento were transitional in characters with flat or sloping enclosures divided into square or rectangular division by covered green galleries and with central fountain and lawn before house. These transitional types of gardens reached at its peak in Florence because they were originated here.

Type # 3. Tuscan Gardens:

These gardens have been conceived four hundred years ago by Tuscan Aristocracy. Typical Tuscan Garden reflects the images of formal renaissance gardens, however, in four hundred years a lot of changes had been adapted due to social changes a d horticultural advances.

The link between man and nature in Tuscany is very strong but social revolutions, political changes and tourism have influenced the style of Tuscan gardens. Due to curious and tense relationship between aristocratic Tuscan land owners and the peasants, have been adopted many symbol that reflected Tuscan culture.

For example mulberry tree (Moms Alba) is almost present in an authentic Tuscan garden. It lives many years and provides leaves for rearing silk worm which served as a cash crop. Similarly wild flower meadows were encouraged for the farm animals. Tuscan’s farmer wives can be seen in collecting fresh herbs from the meadows to fatten and flavour the meat of their rabbits and to create natural medicines from these herbs.

During the renaissance period, the style of Italian gardens was formal. Tuscan gardens, water features and clipped hedges influenced the European gardens in following centuries. There are about 39 gardens in Tuscany Italy and all are worth seeing.

The important ones are Villa Medici at Fiesole and Castello, Marlea villa Reale garden, Villa Garzoni, Villa Gamberiza, Giardino de Boboli, GardinoBardini, PlazzoPiccolomini garden, Villa PoggioTorselli, Peyron Villa garden, Villa Torrigiani garden, Poggio a cajano, Villa La Force, etc.

For better understanding the style of few Tuscan gardens are described hereby:

i. Villa Medici at Fiesole:

This villa at Fiesole was built during the mid-15th century when Elder employed Michellozo di Bartolommeo to design the villa for his second son Giovanni dei Medici. It was intended to be a setting for a intellectual life rather than a working villa.

The quadrangular building is a typical 15th century edifice, with square pietraserena window and broad loggia looking out over the surroundings. The villa-remained the property of the Medici until 1671. After changing many hands it was purchased by lady Sybil Cutting.

The Geographical position of villa shows that it is situated on gently sloping land suggested the layout of garden on three terraces. The first of these at the end of an avenue lined with cypress trees that runs underneath a holm-oak wood has rectangular lawns with potted lemon trees. The second terrace is over looked by the near of the building and is reached by indoor staircase.

This is the least altered part of the garden, has flower beds lined with box hedges with a large fountain in the centre and is laid out in the shade of large magnolia trees. The third terrace was created between 1911-1923, by Ceil Pinsent and Geoffrey Scott, is aligned longitudinally with the first but is 11-12 m lower down. It is laid out in Italian style with a fine pergola positioned mid-way between two levels.

ii. Boboli Garden:

It is another magnificent garden of Tuscan. From the painting of Uttens Lunette of Boboli which is in the Museo Topografico. It is vivid that Tribolo’s layout of this original part of the gardens which was continued by Ammanati was different from what it is today. The contour of the small valley behind the palace was modified to form a definite horse shoe shape but more than half was filled by regular plantations leading a medium sized square lawn with a fountain in the middle as a central motif of the whole layout.

From this long alley, forming the main axis is led through plantations to a regular tank on the hill above, where the fountain of Neptune stand, and symmetrical arranged walks delineated the outline of the horse shoe shaped valley. By the first half of the seventeenth century the Boboli garden had already under gone many changes under the direction by Baccio.

The great amphitheatre has been cleared of the plantations and wall with tiers of seats reflect an ancient Roman hippodrome. This innovation provided a special setting for the lavish pageants and entertainments and grand ducal marriages which were very common during 17th century.

iii. Garzoni Gardens:

Garzoni castle dates back from earlyl600 and was built by Garzoni family form Pescia who were sent into exile. They decided to built a villa in Collodi near ancient border of the Republic Lucca. By 1652, the garden laid out in present form.

Garzoni is a beautiful Baroque garden. Such gardens were made for show purposes. High society used to gather and admire. The characteristic of baroque gardens were a centrally positioned building, elaborate parterres, fountains, basins, canals, etc.

Garzoni garden has pools, waterfalls, statues and a maze. Maze is an intricate usually confusing network of interconnecting path ways with the help of clipped edge plants. From the entrance the garden unfold before your eyes creating a magnificent scene. The Garzoni garden is considered to be one of the best gardens not only in Tuscany but in Italy too. Whimsical real statues such as monkey adorn Garzoni gardens. The Villa Garzoni sits above the garden and can be seen from several vintage points of the garden (Plate 25).

Type # 4. Roman Renaissance Gardens:

During renaissance, the development of art, sculptor, music and gardening got influenced by scholars of Italy, Greeks or Muslim rulers time to time. The other factors which stimulated the apt for gardening and style of gardening were the constructions of big villas or huge mansions and planting of gardens was due to comparative peace and maintenance of law and order in Italian cities. The architecture of fear gave place to architecture of pleasure and happiness.

Though that villas had no heating arrangement, they were well lighted and decorated with paintings and linked with formal gardens. The gardens of renaissance era were characterized by terraces linked by magnificent staircases, often decorated with statues and green walls or rooms of clipped evergreens. The design and planting of separators become a highly developed art. Scented herbs, planting of clipped myrtle and cypress along with covered walks were very impressive.

During this period various botanical gardens were established in Italy. The first of such botanical garden was established in 1543 A.D. at Pisa followed by at Padua (A.D. 1545). These botanical gardens become a place of introduction, multiplication and distributing centre of improved plant species. In Pisa botanical garden, plants introduced were horse chestnut (Juglansnigra), Cinnammumcamphora, Flowering Quince, (Chanomeles japonica) Magnolia grandiflora and tulip tree (Thespesiapopulnea).

At Padua, there is a greenhouse which shelters a palm specimen of Zingaro palm or Mediterranean palm (Chaemeropshumilis). The other plants which were first time introduced in Italy and Europe were Begonia radicans, Cederusdeodara, Cyclamen persicum Jasminumnudiflorum, Robiniapseudoeasia and number of Bamboo species.

After Florence, Rome became a central place for art, literature and gardening. Cathedral of St. Peters was built by Pope Julius II under the patronage of Michelangelo. He engaged Bramante a famous architect for the design of Vatican garden. Bramante set the trend of shaping of whole hill side into garden by making of series of terraces and open air theatre as a part of ever green garden.

The spectacular staircases made to link the parts of the garden. Thus the Vatican gardens combined the beauty of architecture with that of plants. Graceful sculptors are placed in niches whose wall covered with figures of birds and plants provided a pleasant frame work. Entrances and staircases were decorated with clipped hedges and topiary.

The important gardens of this era are Villa d Este Tivoli, Medici Villa lante at Bagnaia, Villa Madama, Villa Caprasola, Villa pamphilji, Villa Ruspali at Vignanello, Villa at Frascati, Villa Aldobrandini, Villa Borghes, etc.

Few in brief are described hereby:

i. Villa d Este at Tivoli:

This is considered as the most Roman as well as most typically renaissance garden of all Italy. The Roman influence is seen as hillside converted into garden. Renaissance effects are visible as every inch of space within boundaries was subject to manmade order and symmetry. Terraces of hill side are crossed at right angle.

The crossing and subsidiary paths were marked by open spaces and all of them were planted in a relation to each other and accentuated by fountains and stone work of same kind. Each pause in the ascent of hill side garden is marked by a new and varied use of water, by fish pond at the lower level, glittering water staircase as climb begins there by great monumental fountains enclosed in garden room among the trees.

The superb promenade of the hundred fountains provides a breathing space. The terminal and junction points of ramps are marked by grottos and fountains. Finally last silver jet sprays the water upward to the sky as the great open terrace before the villa is reached. And at last the climber turns to gaze at vast panorama of the Roman Campagna. There is a great fountains of the ovata in the villa is one of the most beautiful representation of an Italian garden scene.

The fountains of Villa d’ Este have for centuries been one of the sights of Italy visited by every foreign traveller. Villa d’ Este was planted with number of trees like cypresses, bays (Laurusnobilis), Lentisus arbutus, myrtles and Holm-oaks and the ground underneath was carpeted with soft green moss.

The Villa d’ Este was commissioned and built by cardinal Ippolito, II d’ Este the son of Alfonse I d’ Este and Lucrazia Borgia and grandson of Pope Alexander VI PirroLigorio worked 17 years in designing the garden.

ii. Villa Medici:

The Villa Medici is founded by Ferdinando I de Medici grand Duke of Tuscany. It is an architectural complex centered on the villa whose gardens are contiguous with the larger broghese garden. In ancient times, the site of the villa Medici was part of gardens of Lucullus. The villa Medici on the Pincian hill is the only great Roman Villa of 16th century whose garden layout has survived almost intact.

The design of garden villa is essentially that of town villa. The most striking feature is the clear space immediately adjacent to the house behind which lies a well drilled garden of floral parterres, while the shady walk and cypress planted terraces stand at a respectable distance from it. The reason for placing the parterres behind the house was that they can be seen from above and full effect of their design would be appreciated.

The Great persons associated with it were Michelangelo, Vasari, Ammanati and Vignola. The villa originally was superb but it has been shorn of its garden over a large area in all directions. The planting was of 36000 trees of elm, chestnut, cypress, bays, Myrtle and pomegranate and it was filled with fountains, fish pond and grottoes, statues, aviaries and pavilions.

The central focus of the whole layout is the magnificent horse shoe shaped court which has been divided by a porticoes screen. Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803 moved the French Academy to Villa Medici from Rome to protect it from French revolution.

iii. Villa lante at Bagnaia:

The main features of villa lante are cascades, fountains and dripping grottoes. The quarato is a perfectly square parterre. The twin houses stand on one side and on the remaining three sides the garden is enclosed by high hedge of box. In the centre, low box is sculpted and formed into decorative pattern around small fountains and sculpture.

The feature of this parterre is the complex fountain at it’s a centre, formed four basins and separated by parapeted walks. At the heart of the complex, a centre basin contains the ‘Fontana deiMori’, four life sized moors stand square around two lions. They hold high the heraldic mountain surmounted by star shaped fountain jet, the Montello Coat of Arms. This is the focal point.

In the first of ascending terrace lodged between two stone staircases is the fountain of lamps. On the next terrace, there is large and long stone table with a central channel with water flowing. At the back of this terrace are sculpted river gods flaming a fountain. The rill of small basins allows the water to ripple down to arrive at the fountain between sculpted crayfish claws.

On the next upper terrace are further fountains and grottos and two small houses of the Muses. The sides frame of the large fountain of the Deluge that terminates the axis of garden. The main facades of these small houses feature Serliana loggias articulated by ionic columns. One house gives access to a small secret garden, a garden of hedges and topiary with a line of columns. A perspective plan of 1609 shows a wooded area of walks and vistas to obelisks (obelisks is a tall narrow four sided topiary monument which ends in a pyramid shape) and maze.

Type # 5. Gardens of Marche and Veneto:

Region of Marche and Veneto lies in the centre on the coast of Adriatic Sea. The area consists of rolling hills offer a pretty back drop. Thus, the gardens are terraced gardens.

Gardens of Marche:

There are three famous gardens namely Giardino Buonaccorsi, Caprila villa and Villa Imperiale.

These are described briefly:

1. Giardino Buonaccorsi:

This garden was first made in 15th century and has been maintained in its original form in 18th century by Contessa Giuseppina Buonaccorsi. It is considered an extraordinary and stunning garden full of fascinations. Its superb distant vistas are attractions for visitors and garden designers. Its main attractions are mosaic stone work, statues and sea views.

The house stands on the crest of small hill with a delightful landscape of garden hills and valley extending between it and the sea. The hill behind the house and its southern slope has been laid out as a series of walled and sheltered terraces, open to the sun and with a lovely view. There are five of them in all. The highest which lies between the houses and the chapel has open forecourt and a slightly raised Giardino Segreto

2. Caprile Villa:

It is a walled terraced garden with restored water games. It’s surprising jet’s of water is more popular with the visitors.

3. Villa Imperiale:

It is renaissance villa on a steep slope of mountainous terrain. It was damaged during Second World War and has been restored now.

4. Gardens of Veneto:

In the northeastern corner of Italy, Veneto is beautifully located between the mountains and the biggest lake in Italy, Lake Garda. The landscape of Veneto is varied. To the north it is dominated by majestic mountains and flat landscape in south.

The climate is pleasant all year which favours good growth of plants. Veneto has about 13 gardens,

Important ones are:

i. Giusti Giardino,

ii. Villa Pisani, Valsanzibio gardens,

iii. Valsanzibio Gardens:

iv. Villa Emo Rivella Garden,

v. Botanical garden, Padua, etc.

These Gardens are briefly described hereby.

i. Giusti Giardino:

It is one of the Italy’s famous gardens and dates back from 16th century which was modified in 18th century and restored in 20th century. The garden is on a hill behind the villa, has terraces, parterres and a grotto. Planted with cypress, maze edge plants, statues, fountains and lush green lawn. Decorated with flowering plants in pots at appropriate places.

ii. Villa Pisani:

A 18th century palace with a baroque garden was made in 1730-40. The central canal which now dominates the layout was made in early 20th century. Planted with maze of hedge and edge plants, have statues, and arbors.

iii. Valsanzibio Gardens:

It was laid out is 1669 and it is liked due to its site and perfect planning. This is considered as an amphitheatre of hills and house stands sideways in an amphitheatre. The end is linked by a great avenue flung across the valley. The garden has sculptors, pools, fountains, lemon, trees and box, hedges. The baroque garden has seventy statues, cascade, fountains and water features. The trees cypresses and parterres with hedge are worth seeing.

iv. Villa Emo Rivella Garden:

A Palladian style villa of 16th century attributed to Vinceza’OSeamozzi, with an extensive flower garden made after 1966. Though a recent creation is still classically Italian in conception uniting typically Italian renaissance element such as pergola, orchard and fish ponds and includes an exceptional variety of flowers.

v. Botanical Garden, Padua:

This is one of the earliest botanical gardens in Europe for collection of plants, maintenance and teaching to the students. In Europe potato was grown first in 1590. The German poet, Goethe visited this garden in 1786 and planted a palm tree and anticipated the theory of evolution. The garden is protected by a circular wall, rebuilt during the 18th century, with statues and bust. The circular wall encloses four square gardens, two of which have circles within. The use of circles and square symbolize the perfection.

Type # 6. Gardens of North Italy:

In North Italy, gardens were made by great Genoese admiral and statesman Andrea Doria in the beginning of 16th Century and existed for three hundred years. In 1561, Jan Massys artist painted “Cytherian Venus” in which he portrayed the Garden with a wonderful setting, terraced gardens with marble fountains and pergola’s sweep down to the water’s edge where porticoes palace to look distant views. At distance he painted cliffs and sunlit sea. Such gardens became popular in Genoa. The beautiful site near sea shore of Genoa and luscious vegetation was called paradiso. So many gardens came up with similar design.

In North Italy the important gardens are:Doria garden, Palazzo Podesta, Villa CicognaMozzoni at Bisuschio near LakeLugano; CastelloBalduino at Monalto Pavia; Plazzina de Caccia of stupinigi, Garden near Turin, Villa Carlotta and Villa CrivelliSormani.

Out of these few are described hereby:

i. Villa CicognaMozzoni:

It was established before 1440 as a hunting lodge of the Mozzoni family. It was completed between 1530 and 1559 with frescoes and wall paintings by the Campi brothers. The most pleasant characters are merging of lodge with garden. One enjoys two flight stair wayswhich leads directly to the halls of villa and also enjoy from above the sight of beautiful panorma.

The wall in garden is typical example of formal Italian garden with box hedges, water basins, fountains and a grotto with remarkable water works. The garden and villa were built simultaneously to have continuity between outside and inside. The first garden (near to the partico) with two large fish ponds and many statues is like an open air room with the bay hedge on other side.

The two other terraced gardens looking north are in perfect continuation of the house. Finally the English park with green houses completes the garden. There are many trees like Fagussylvectaatropurpurea (beach), Taxusbaccata, Cedruslibani, Quercussuber, Thuja occidentals, Ilex aquifolium, Quercus ilex and Camellia joponica. The view from the top towards Lake Lugano and mountains is beautiful.

Now-a-days villa is used for social gathering cultural events, shooting, exhibitions, marriages etc.

ii. The Plazzina di caccia of stupinigi:

It is one of the residences of Royal House of Savoy in Turin Northern Italy. The new palace was designed by architect Filippo Juvarra for Vittorio Amedo II. It is a hunting lodge and symbolized by the bronze stag perched at the apex of the stepped roof of its central dome.

The building has a saltire plan: (it is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross like letter X). Which has four angled wings project from the oval shaped main hall? The extension of this resulted in separate pavilions by long angled galleries and long octagonal forecourt enclosed by wings, extended in two further entrance courts. It was the preferred building to be used for celebrations and dynastic weddings by the members of House of Savoy.

iii. Castillo Balduino at Monalto Pavia:

It is located at Montallo Pavia in 1909; the Balduino family bought the garden and castle and invited Giovanni Chevalley to restore the garden. The garden after restoration includes fountains and garden sculpture along a narrow walk. The shapes are geometric mostly of box and yews terraces that follow the bastions of the original 13th century castle. The garden has majestic entrance and potted lemon trees and topiary.

iv. Villa Carlotta:

It was completed in 1745. It was presented as a wedding gift by Princess Marianna of Prussia to her daughter Charlotte, after whom the villa is named. It is on Lake Como in Northern Italy. It covers an area of 7 ha. in Tremezzo facing the Bellagio Peninsula. It is a typical Italian garden with steps, fountains and sculptures. The statues of mars and venues are very attractive.

By the beginning of 18th century, France rather than Italy had become the acknowledged centre of garden design. On Northern Italy, French gardens had become the fashion and many gardens were built on French style. French gardens influence was also reached to other European countries like Spain, Sweden, England, and Russia.

Though the Italian gardens are still center of attractions in its original form, but after 19th century informal style of English garden started influencing the Italian gardens too with meandering path ways, asymmetrical water bodies, irregular flower beds, planting of flowering trees, etc.