The Great Gardens of Italy Tour 2024

We’ll arrange a private transfer from Rome’s Fiumicino airport to the hotel in the centre of Rome for anyone flying into Rome today. We meet in the evening for a welcome dinner in a typical Roman trattoria within walking distance of the hotel.
Overnight: Rome

Today we will drive south of Rome to Castel Gandolfo to visit the Papal summer palace and visit the gardens of the Villa Barberini with an official guide. There will be time for lunch in Castel Gandolfo before we drive on to 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.
Overnight: Rome

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 high Renaissance gardens, and we will spend a delightful afternoon wandering through the gardens.
Overnight: Rome

We start this morning with a walking tour of the Vatican Gardens, the enormous, previously private gardens of the Pope. Our guided visit to the gardens also includes entry to the Sistine Chapel.
You have the afternoon free to explore the Eternal City, catch up on shopping and postcards, or just put your feet up. Our hotel is near some of Rome’s key attractions, including the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, the Corso shopping district and the Trevi Fountain.
Overnight: Rome

Today you leave your base in Rome and transfer to Florence. On the way, you will stop at the Villa Lante, created in the 16th Century by the architect Jacopo da Vignola. The gardens feature a riot of water and fountains, a formal parterre and a series of ascending terraces. You’ll stop for lunch and then continue on to our next base in Florence. We’ll arrive in time for you to settle in and relax before the excitement of the next few days.
Overnight: Florence

Today you’ll visit one of the most famous gardens in Italy, the Boboli Gardens, behind the Palazzo Pitti. These extensive gardens were created by the Medici and are said to be perhaps the earliest example of the Italian Garden.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit a less-famous, but perhaps more beautiful garden – The Giardino di Bardini. Located on a hillside that rises above Florence, offering spectacular views of the city and the famous duomo.
Overnight: Florence

This morning, you will visit the private Torrigiani Gardens, one of the largest private gardens in a European city. Once inside these huge gardens, you can easily forget you are in the middle of a crowded city and lose yourself in their quiet beauty.
The afternoon is completely free time to catch up on some rest, wander around the historic centre or explore some of the museums of Florence.
Overnight: 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 an authentic Renaissance garden that exists today. We visit the Villa Gamberaia set in the hills above Florence in the afternoon. 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 

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 to visit 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, a leisurely stroll through the streets and piazze of this most romantic city with the rest of its gentlefolk.
Overnight: Verona

We start the morning with a walking tour with a local guide, giving you an excellent introduction to Verona and the Giardino Giusti. This garden is one of the relatively undiscovered treasures of Verona. It dates back to 1404, although the current layout, which features Roman ruins, fountains, mythological statues and an enormous cypress beloved by 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 and explore its lovely palazzo.
We leave the afternoon free to wander through the charming pedestrian streets of the city.
Overnight: Verona

Today you’ll visit a garden created in the 18th Century for the Count Rizzardi, at Negar outside Verona. The garden is considered one of the latest examples of the ‘Italian garden’ and features extensive parterres, fountains and statues. It is best known for its “Green Theatre” created with cypress and box hedges. The garden is situated amongst the Rizzardi family vineyards and offers a delightful prospect.
You’ll return to Verona in the afternoon and the rest of the day is free time.
Overnight: Verona 

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 beautiful small winery, a tour of their production facilities and memorable lunch.
We arrive at Bellagio in the mid-afternoon in time to settle down for aperitivi on the hotel’s terrace overlooking the exquisite Lake Como.
Overnight: Bellagio 

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 love to put on a flashy display.
Overnight: Bellagio

We spend our last day crisscrossing 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

Today we depart our base and transfer back to Milan’s Malpensa airport, arriving by noon and then to Milano Centrale station, where we arrive by 1 pm. If you need to catch a flight at a different time, speak to us about arranging a private transfer. We are happy to organise for you to extend your stay in the Lakes area or offer advice for extending your holiday in Italy.