Ahhh! Spring! Though today the Roman newspapers have announced that this spring is one of the coolest we’ve had in years (and, happily, they’re predicting a cool-ish summer as well), it IS starting to warm up and the sun is moving back toward the center of the sky.
As a result, Rome’s green spaces are flourishing. The plane trees along the Tiber River have been gray skeletons for months, but suddenly their graceful branches have disappeared and leaves have sprouted. The Judas trees that line any number of streets in the Eterna have burst into gorgeous purple blossoms. And even the wisteria that climbs on and over fences and apartment buildings has begun to flower.
All of this sprouting and blooming means that any plant or garden lover should head immediately to Rome’s Protestant Cemetery, where trees, bushes, and plants are all topped with an abundance of light green leaves that mark new growth. The peonies are blooming and so are the irises. And the air smells like damp soil and wild onions.
We at the eCool compound regularly find our peace at this place - a visit is like a holiday in the country without having to leave town.
For more information about the cemetery’s history and the literary luminaries buried within, click here. Via Caio Cesto, 6. Open 9am to 4:30pm everyday.
