Spring is not spring in Rome without the azaleas decorating and coloring the 18th-century staircase of Trinità de’ Monti every year between April and May, enhancing the theatrical value of one of the most popular urban settings in the world.
The tradition of the Capitoline flower exhibition dates back to the early 1930s. At the time, blooming azaleas were displayed in the park of Villa Aldobrandini; then, in 1952, they moved permanently to Piazza di Spagna. This year, the floral triumph features over 200 white and lilac azalea plants (“Bianca di Spagna” and “Fenicia” varieties). For the rest of the year, the plants are housed in the Semenzaio di San Sisto, the wonderful nursery and botanical garden on the slopes of the Celio. Here, municipal gardeners have always tended to specimens of the Rhododendron indicum variety, an azalea not found in shops, which is particularly well-suited to the Roman climate.
The duration of the display (about one month) depends on the weather conditions: a sudden increase in temperature or a succession of rainy days shortens the flowering time, accelerating their return to the the city nurseries. In 2026, the display of azaleas will also extend to Via dei Condotti, making this corner of the historic centre even more picturesque.
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