We’ve discovered a secret garden. Great site about the Umbrian fantasy gardens called La Scarzuola. Amazing photos. Another Umbrian Must See. I remember having dinner with the owner Marco Solari one night in Panicale. I felt so ignorant that I had never even heard of his awesome place. What a pagan I turned out to be! Can not take me anywhere. Let alone to cool dinners with people who own famous architectural follies. I was reminded of Scarzuola again when a friend brought us the London Sunday Telegram and it featured this magic place in its Gardening section. They called La Scarzuola, and the famous Ninfa gardens outside Rome, “Hidden Italian Iydlls”. I must get there in October too. So many places, so little time. All my friends who have seen it rave about it. You will find it a bit southwest of Perugia, near Montegabbione and Terni. I will have better, complete directions after I have been there myself but I wanted to share it now in case anyone can still see it this fall!
Marco said they are happy to show La Scarzuola at all times of the year, but only to groups with reservations. It is well off the beaten path so you mostly likely will not just be passing by. I know I have not! I understand from my friend Elida that it is bit of an intricate and maze-like process to get there. “Ma, va le la pena.” — well worth the trouble. I will put La Scarzuola’s phone/fax here, so you can check out this garden fantasy during your next Umbrian trip. 076 383 7463.