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Ninfa, declared a Natural Monument by Regional Law in 2000, is located in the municipalities of Cisterna di Latina and Sermoneta. It was a medieval city for which reminiscent evidence still exists, including part of the castle, the walls, the completely restored municipal building and relics of churches and city buildings. Above all, Ninfa, is a magnificent natural oasis, unique in the world, created where once marshes reigned. The history of this place began, basically, in the middle of the 8th century, when it was given to Pope Zacharias by the Emperor of Constantinople. Since then, it has belonged to various powerful families, such as the Counts of Tuscolo, the Frangipane family (during whose rule Alexander III was crowned Pope on 20 September 1159). The city was subsequently destroyed by Emperor Frederick Redbeard before passing to the Counts of Ceccano, under the pontificate of Innocent III, and the Annibaldi family. Finally, it became the estate of the Caetani family that began what would be one of the most splendid periods through the election of Benedetto Caetani to the Pontifex (1294) with the name Boniface VIII. The city was again destroyed in 1382 and completely abandoned. It was necessary to wait until 1920 to see Ninfa return to life, after a series of extraordinary recovery interventions implemented by Gelasio Caetani, son of Onorato and Ada, both of British origin, (total cleaning of the area, restoration and reinforcing of the buildings, planting of the first trees) and, thereafter, by Roffredo Caetani and his wife Marguerite Chapin (American) who was entirely dedicated to caring for the garden. But the greatness of the current naturalistic oasis is principally due to Lelia Caetani, the last descendant of the Caetani family. In fact, it was she who completed the plan of the current garden that did not follow any model or fashion of the times, but simply the creative instinct and skills of three women of noble lineage. It was Lelia herself, together with her husband Huben Howard, who opened the Gardens, first to a small circle of connoisseurs and then to a broader public, and set up the Caetani Foundation, which still manages the Gardens and Ruins of Ninfa today. Here one breathes a magical atmosphere, a place where species of plants and flowers from all over the world live side by side. It’s as if the land and climate adapt to them and supply them with all the constituents typical of their original habitat and required for them to thrive luxuriantly. It all seems part of a supernatural plan, the beauty of which is contributed to by the Ninfa river, the tiny streams, the lake and diverse fauna: birds, such as the kingfisher, ash-grey egret, penduline tit, scops owl, screech owl, moorhen, coot, mallard and animals including the badger, porcupine, dormouse and weasel.  Visits to the Garden and ruins of Ninfa are by guided tour, which only run on special days during the year, from April to November (see the calendar below):                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Calendar 2012:                                                                                                                                                                                       April: 7 - 8 - 9 - 15 - 22 - 25; May: 1 - 5 - 6 - 20; June: 2 - 3 - 17; July: 7 - 8; August: 4 - 5 - 15; September: 1 - 2; October: 6 – 7; November: 4. Opening hours: April, May, June: 9:00-12:00 and 14:30-18:00; October, November: 9:00-12:00 and 14:30-16:00; July, August, September: 9:00-12:00 and 15:00-18:30

Information and ticket purchasing:                                                                                                                                                     Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Latina: Via Duca del Mare 19, 04100 LATINA, tel. 0773695404 – fax 0773661266 – www.latinaturismo.it - e-mail: info@latinaturismo.it (information only – no ticket purchasing); Management Ninfa Gardens: 04010 Doganella di Ninfa; Secretariat Roffredo Caetani Foundation: fax 0773633935 – www.fondazioneroffredocaetani.org; Caretaker’s Lodge Palazzo Caetani: Via delle Botteghe Oscure, 32 – 00186 ROMA, tel. 066873056; LIPU: Corso Matteotti, 169, 04100 LATINA, tel. 0773484993                                                                                           

Entrance fee: Euro 10.00                                                                                                                                                            

School tours: on dates to be agreed to, subject to reservation (Palazzo Caetani, in Rome, tel.06-6873056; LIPU Latina, tel.0773484993) and advance payment of tickets, made only at the Caretaker’s Lodge of Palazzo Caetani, in Rome (06-6873056). Entrance fee: Euro 5.00 Group tours: (at least 30 persons); during any period of the year, by previous reservation  by email to: caetani.giardinodininfa@panservice.it (replies are only made to requests for guided tours for groups). Cost of the ticket: Euro 8.00

NATURAL PARK  PANTANELLO IN THE NATURAL MONUMENT "NINFA GARDENS" December 15, 2009 saw the inauguration of the Natural Park Pantanello, approx. 100 ha. within the protected Oasis for fauna, where a wood was planted and a system of wet zones set up to facilitate the stopover and nest-building of bird fauna, starting from the ‘90s. In addition, the vegetation in the area remained or was reintroduced in order to recreate a humid ambience that was quite vast in the former Pontine marshes during the ‘30s. Today, most of it has disappeared, leaving only small identifiable areas. Basically, the quality and quantity of the original natural areas have been renewed in a part of the territory that had been heavily altered, despite its falling within a context of high historic-landscape value. The “construction” of a wild area was not desired, but, instead, the creation of "new nature" in places where it used to exist. This was out of regard for the various purposes and, especially, the formation of new habitats, supporting the recovery of marginal areas, borders and canalization to be built, and neo-ecosystems, required for the creation of a new ecological network. The wet areas that cover about 15 hectares feature different ecological values, starting from the recovery and reinstallation of species of native vegetation (Pontina Flora Project). These species survived the transformation of the natural environment in individual and limited sectors of the flatland; saving it constitutes a great cultural profit as well as a benefit to biodiversity. The area is located along the path of one of the main migratory routes travelled by birds coming from African countries and moving towards various European areas. Here, various species find safe refuge to rest and recover or even build nests. The wet areas currently cover approx. 12 hectares (pools, bogs, swampy areas, wet fields and small courses of running water) and, in the near future, may be enlarged further and developed, through the formation of patches of riparian and marshy forests. The naturalistic layout, of which the woods and wet areas are already in operation, began to reply immediately to the purposes for which it was created. In fact, there have been registrations of the arrival of wild ducks, teals, mallards, gadwalls, herons, lapwings and rare birds, such as red-rumped swallows. From a botanical point of view, observation has also been made of the spontaneous recolonisation of the vegetative populations appurtenant to the specific communities of these habitats. The Renewed Area, which, together with the historic garden, makes up the Natural Monument "Ninfa Gardens", is intended to become a focal point for the restoration and preservation of wet zones; this is also related to the emergent environmental criticalities (preservation of water resources, climatic changes, invasion of alien species). For these reasons, the ecological restoration started up is meant to perform didactic-scientific functions through study and monitoring programmes to be carried out in collaboration with national and international research institutes. Part of the area can also be used for school courses and study programmes in collaboration with the Regional Park Agency for environmental education and ecological training as a “mini-guide”. The socio-cultural importance of this activity, linked also to a valorisation of the surrounding territories, has been fully accepted by the Region of Latium that has supported and continues to support it through repeated, organised financial interventions.

Opening times and reservations: from October to March: individuals, accompanied within the area in groups of at least 10 persons, every Sunday with tours at 10:00; schools and organised groups of at least 15 persons, daily: Reservations are compulsory: please contact: caetani.monumentonaturale@panservice,it,  fax 0773354241 -LIPU Latina, tel. 0773484993. Entrance fee (includes the guide): adults € 10.00 – children up to age 10 € 5.00 - students € 5.00

HOW TO GET HERE Coming form the north, along the S.S. 7, Appia, at km.60,500, turn to the left towards Doganella di Ninfa that is reached after approx. 4 km. After crossing Doganella, continue for approx. 2.5 km. Coming from the south, at km.65,300 on the S.S.7, Appia, turn to the right towards Latina Scalo and continue for approx. 4.5 km. Take a left there and Doganella di Ninfa is reached after another 3.5 km. From here follow the road indicated above. Alternatively, instead of turning towards Doganella, one can continue towards Norma, until the intersection that indicates Ninfa to the left. A shuttle service is available from Latina and/or Latina Scalo; reservations are compulsory: tel.0773480672 - 0773484502 (Bruno Maragoni - maragoni@latinaturismo.it) For more in-depth information, the pamphlet "Provincia verde, provincia blue" (green province, blue province) can be downloaded from the page "Le nostre pubblicazioni" (Our publications) in the main menu