The Great Gardens of Italy

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Rome

Private transfer from Rome’s Fiumicino airpot to our hotel, where we meet in the late afternoon to go for our welcome dinner in a typical Roman trattoria near Campo dei Fiori.
Overnight: Rome (D)

Day 2: Il Giardino Di Ninfa & Castel Gandolfo

Today we will drive just south of Rome for a guided visit at the Garden of Ninfa, perhaps the most romantic garden in the world. The prosperous town of Ninfa was abandoned in the 14th Century and left as a medieval Pompeii until Prince Gelasio Caetani and his English mother started to create a garden around, on and in the ruins of the old town in the 20th Century.
On our trip back towards Rome, we stop at Castel Gandolfo, the Papal summer palace ad visit the gardens of the Villa Barberini with an official guide.
Overnight: Rome (B)

Day 3: The Vatican Gardens & Free Time to Visit Rome

We start this morning with a walking tour of the Vatican Gardens, the enormous, previously private gardens of the Pope. Our ticket to the Gardens includes entry to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel so, time permitting, you can spend an hour or so in the museums, before we head back to our hotel.
In the afternoon you have free to explore the Eternal City; catch-up on shopping and postcards or just put your feet up. Our hotel is next door to some of Rome’s key attractions including the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, the Corso shopping district and the Trevi Fountain so it will be easy to do a combination of all activities.
Overnight: Rome (B,D)

Day 4: Tivoli - The Gardens of an Emperor & a Cardinal

This morning we drive north to visit two of perhaps the most famous Italian gardens, conveniently located in proximity to each other at Tivoli. Our first stop is at Villa Adriana, the ruins of Emperor Hadrian’s villa, built from 117AD. The ruins were rediscovered in the 15th Century and became a source of inspiration for the great Renaissance architects & designers. Cardinal Ippolito d’Este oversaw extensive excavations in the 16th Century while he was Governor of Tivoli. It is to his palace, the Villa d’Este, that we head off to in the afternoon. The Villa d’Este is one of the most impressive of the high Renaissance gardens and we will spend a delightful afternoon wondering through the hectares of gardens.
Overnight: Rome (B)

Day 5: Castello Ruspoli & on to Florence

Today we leave our base in Rome and transfer to Florence. On our way we stop at the Castello Ruspoli, a wonderful traditional Italian garden that boasts hedging dating back to the 1600s. We have lunch in the pretty hilltop town of Vignanello before driving on to Florence. We’ll arrive in time for you to settle in and relax before the excitement of the next few days.
Overnight: Florence (B,L)

Day 6: Florence

This morning is a time-out from the gardens – we spend it on a walking tour of central Florence with a local guide, learning about the origins of the Renaissance and some of the history of the Medici family whose name will crop up again and again over the coming days. You will have the afternoon free to appreciate this memorable city. Florence lends itself to be explored on foot, its famous museums and churches rich in art are a tempting attraction, but its famous markets and beautiful piazze are just as inviting.
Overnight: Florence (B,L)

Day 7: Walled gardens of central Florence

Today we explore two of the important gardens within the city of Florence. Firstly, we visit the private Torrigiani gardens where the Marquis shows us around. Once inside these huge gardens you can so easily forget you are in the middle of a crowded city.
After lunch we visit another garden in central Florence – the Bardini Gardens – with their wonderful views out over the city and its river Arno.
Overnight: Florence (B,L)

Day 8: Renaissance splendours outside Florence

On our last day in Florence we spend the morning visiting one of the Medici gardens at Villa Castello. The villa was constructed by Cosimo I de Medici in the 1500s when he was elected as the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Many experts claim that it is perhaps the nearest thing to a true Renaissance garden that exists today. In the afternoon we visit the Villa Gamberaia set in the hills above Florence. This garden was loved by a long-list of English and American ex-pats and in fact, Cecil Pinset spent time here studying its layout.
Overnight: Florence (B, D)

Day 9: Traditional Balsamic Vinegar and on to Verona

We’re on the road again today, heading north to the enchanting small city of Verona. Our route takes us through Modena, famous as the centre of Italy’s balsamic vinegar industry. We’ll stop along the way to visit an acetaia, a traditional balsamic vinegar producer, where we’ll learn why this tightly controlled product is as expensive per litre as the best champagnes!
We arrive in Verona in time for the afternoon passeggiata, the leisurely stroll through the streets and piazze of this most romantic city with the rest of its gentlefolk.
Overnight: Verona (B,L)

Day 10: Verona and Giardino Giusti

This mornings walking tour with a local guide gives you a good introduction to Verna and the Giardino Giusti. This garden is one of the relatively undiscovered treasures of Verona. It dates back to 1404, although the present layout, which features Roman ruins, fountains, mythological statues and an enormous cypress beloved of the poet Goethe, was designed in 1570 by Agostino Giusti, a knight of the Venetian Republic. We’ll enjoy the spectacular views of Verona from the belvedere as well as exploring its lovely palazzo.
We leave the afternoon free to wander through the charming pedestrian streets of the city.
Overnight: Verona (B, D)

Day 11: Padua & the Botanic Gardens

Today we’ll take you to visit the charming small city of Padua, home to the Orto Botanico di Padova, founded in 1545, the garden is one of the oldest botanic gardens in the world. We will arrive in Padua mid-morning and there will be time to wander around the historic centre and have lunch before we join a representative of the University of Padua (guardians of the gardens) for a guided tour of the Botanic Gardens. We return to Verona in the afternoon and it’s free time for the rest of the day.
Overnight: Verona (B)

Day 12: Franciacorta wine and on to Lake Como

The Franciacorta area has some of the best champagne-style wines in the world. We’re lucky to have a great relationship with one of the smaller quality producers in the area, who are also sensational chefs. So our road north to Bellagio today will be punctuated by an enjoyable break at this wonderful small winery, a tour of the their production facilities and a memorable lunch.
We arrive at Bellagio mid-afternoon in time to settle down for aperitivi on the hotel’s terrace overlooking the exquisite Lake Como.
Overnight: Bellagio (B, L)

Day 13: Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands

Today we drive across to the neighbouring Lake Maggiore where we visit the most spectacular of the Borromean Islands, Isola Bella. In the sixteenth century Carlo III Borromeo acquired this island as the site for his Baroque palace and surrounding gardens. Its unique geography has resulted in a multi-level tiered garden with spectacular and surprising views from different angles. Watch out for the noisy white peacocks who just love to put on a gaudy display.
Overnight: Bellagio (B)

Day 14: Villas and gardens of Lake Como

We spend our last day criss-crossing the waters of Lake Como to see some beautiful villa gardens. We visit two of the most famous, Villa Melzi and Villa Carlotta. These two gardens are in part the product of the rivalry between Francesco Melzi d’Eril and his neighbour across the water Giovanni Battista Sommariva as they tried to outdo one another in an open display of horticultural one-upmanship.
Overnight: Bellagio (B,D)

Day 15: Departure

Today we depart our base and transfer back to Milan’s Malpensa airport, arriving by 12pm and on to Milano Centrale station, where we arrive by 1pm.