| Hi Neil, Right opposite the Circus Maximus (Metro Circo Massimo) and Caesar's Palace is the Rose Garden, which is open all year but marvellous at this time of the year when all the roses are in bloom. I think by August, most of them will have been cut off, except for the late flowering ones. I always mean't to go round there when they were pruning the roses and beg a few cuttings, but never managed it. Then right behind the Rose Garden, come out of it and turn left and then right, you'll find the Orange Garden which is basically an Orangerie, with a great view over the Tiber. Then on the road that runs along the Tiber, beside the Via del Trastevere is the Botanical Garden with many unusual specimens. Apart from these there really aren't any formal gardens, just smaller gardens attached to big villas in Rome. Should you go up to Tivoli, (about half an hour from Rome, there are numerous tourist coaches that will take you there from any of the major hotels)the gardens of the Villa d'Este are magnificent and boast 1000 fountains, all created hundreds of years ago, all working by water pressure alone and all still working! The Vatican does have a nice garden, but I don't know if it is open to the public. Should you visit the Catacombs on Via Appia, peep in to some of the private gardens. They are lovely and the owners might let you look around. Have a great time! | 
