Most Italians take pride in their relaxed attitude. They enjoy taking breaks outdoors, eating slowly to savor all the flavors in their food, and sipping their espresso in coffee shops rather than walk around with a to-go cup of coffee.
This “chill vibe” translates into almost everything Italians create. One example is their traditional garden. This planned space is specifically designed to reflect their beautiful, relaxed lifestyle through carefully selected plants, private spaces, and complementary garden planters.
Italian Gardens in a Nutshell
Italian-style gardens are all about symmetry. Elements are arranged to complement each other as opposed to hog the spotlight individually. While English gardens favor sweeps and curves, Italian gardens tend to follow the “geometric route” with beds shaped in squares, rectangles, or triangles.
The primary goal of creating an Italian garden is to achieve balance and order and highlight beauty in simplicity.
Design Highlights
A traditional Italian garden is especially attractive because of its seamless combination of aesthetics and functionality. Everything exists to serve a purpose.
Some of the most common elements of a traditional Italian garden include:
• Water Features
Water features may come in the form of a marble-paved pond, a chalice basin, or a wall fountain.
• Frescoes
Frescoes often depict scenes of winemaking or Roman ruins for posterity.
• Statues, Columns, and Ruins
Italy is famed for its rich history in architecture. You can capture the basics of Italian design in your garden with statues, columns, and ruins.
• Garden planters
Italian gardens are often adorned with plants like evergreen, boxwoods, and junipers. While there is a minimal incorporation of flowers, the garden maintains its aesthetics with beautiful and durable planters like Tuscan clay pots, Mediterranean oil jars, and Terra Cotta baskets.
After designing your garden ala-Italiana, enjoy planting vines, roses, and other plants that soothe your senses. Soon enough, you will be lounging in your DIY piazza with your friends and family. Add some cheese and wine and relax like a true-blue Italian.
