Tour Details
This journey has been designed to explore some of Italy’s most distinctive gardens, travelling through a series of regions where landscape, architecture and history are closely connected. Over the course of the tour, we move between historic villas, countryside estates and smaller private gardens, each offering a different perspective on how these spaces have been shaped over time.
The itinerary is paced to allow time within each garden rather than simply passing through. Some visits focus on the formal design and structure of grand Renaissance landscapes, while others feel more relaxed and personal, reflecting the character of the families who created them. Moving between locations also provides a broader sense of the surrounding countryside and the cultural context in which these gardens developed.
Along the way, there is time to enjoy regional food and wine and to experience the towns and landscapes that sit beyond the garden gates. Travelling in a small group keeps the experience flexible and considered, allowing the days to unfold at a comfortable rhythm.
Tour Dates and Prices
11 – 25 April 2027
$10,970 AUD per person (twin share)
$12,970 AUD per person (solo traveller)
Accommodation
- Rome – Hotel Nazionale
- Florence – Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco or Hotel de la Ville
- Verona – Hotel Colomba d’Oro
- Bellagio – Hotel Florence
Rooms in historic Italian hotels can vary in size, outlook and configuration. On occasion, a hotel may be replaced with another property of a similar standard and location. Any such change will always reflect the overall quality and style of the tour.
What’s Included
- Fourteen nights’ accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- Selected lunches and dinners
- Entry fees to sites and gardens included in the programme
- Local guides at selected locations
- Wine tasting in Franciacorta
- Visit to a balsamic vinegar producer
- Private transport throughout
- Boat transfers on the lakes
- Tour leader for the duration
What’s Not Included
- International airfares
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed
- Optional activities during free time
- Personal expenses
Additional Information
A moderate level of fitness is required, as visits involve extended periods of walking, often on uneven surfaces.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers.
- Visit the Giardino di Ninfa, set within the ruins of a medieval town
- Guided exploration of the Papal Gardens at Castel Gandolfo
- Private access to the Torrigiani Gardens in Florence
- Explore Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este in Tivoli
- Time on both Lake Como and Lake Maggiore
- Three nights in Bellagio
- Franciacorta wine tasting and vineyard visit
- Visit a traditional balsamic vinegar producer near Modena
Day 1 - Arrive in Rome
Arrive in Rome and make your way to the hotel in the historic centre. The afternoon is free to settle in or take a short walk nearby. In the evening, meet the group for a welcome dinner at a local trattoria.
Overnight: Rome
Day 2 - Castel Gandolfo and Ninfa
This morning, travel to Castel Gandolfo, overlooking Lake Albano, where you will visit the Papal Gardens with a specialist guide. There is time to pause in the town before continuing south to the Giardino di Ninfa. Here, carefully designed plantings sit among the ruins of a former medieval settlement, creating one of Italy’s most distinctive garden environments. Return to Rome in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Rome
Day 3 - Tivoli: Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este
Drive to Tivoli to explore two contrasting sites. Villa Adriana offers a vast and atmospheric complex of imperial ruins, while Villa d’Este represents Renaissance garden design at its most elaborate, with terraces, fountains and water features throughout. Return to Rome in the afternoon.
Overnight: Rome
Day 4 - Palazzo Colonna and free time
Visit Palazzo Colonna for a private tour, including its galleries and gardens, still owned by the same family. The afternoon is left open, giving you time to explore Rome independently, visit a museum, or simply walk through the city at your own pace.
Overnight: Rome
Day 5 - Villa Lante and Florence
Depart Rome and travel north, stopping at Villa Lante in Bagnaia. The gardens here are a classic example of Renaissance symmetry, with terraces, fountains and water features guiding the layout. Continue on to Florence, arriving in the afternoon with time to settle in before dinner at your leisure.
Overnight: Florence
Day 6 - Gardens of Florence
Begin at the Boboli Gardens, an extensive historic garden behind the Pitti Palace, where sculpture, architecture and landscape are closely integrated. After time for lunch, continue to the Bardini Gardens, which offer a quieter setting and wide views across Florence.
Overnight: Florence
Day 7 - Torrigiani Gardens and free time
Visit the Torrigiani Gardens with private access. Located within the city, these gardens are surprisingly expansive, with a mix of formal areas, woodland sections and architectural features. The afternoon is free to explore Florence further or visit its museums.
Overnight: Florence
Day 8 - Villa Gamberaia and the Tuscan hills
Travel into the hills above Florence to visit Villa Gamberaia, known for its proportion, balance and carefully arranged water features. After time in the gardens, enjoy lunch in the countryside before returning to Florence for a relaxed afternoon.
Overnight: Florence
Day 9 - Modena and Verona
Depart Florence and travel north, stopping near Modena to visit a traditional balsamic vinegar producer and learn about the production process. Continue on to Verona, arriving in the afternoon with time to walk through the historic centre.
Overnight: Verona
Day 10 - Verona and Giardino Giusti
The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, join a guided walk through Verona, followed by a visit to the Giardino Giusti, a Renaissance garden set on a hillside above the city, with cypress-lined avenues and views across the rooftops.
Overnight: Verona
Day 11 - Villa Pojega and Parco Giardino Sigurtà
Visit Villa Pojega, where formal terraces and structured planting reflect late eighteenth-century design. Continue to Parco Giardino Sigurtà, a much larger landscape garden, where open lawns, lakes and seasonal displays provide a contrast to the earlier villa gardens.
Overnight: Verona
Day 12 - Franciacorta and Lake Como
Travel to the Franciacorta wine region for a visit to a local producer, including a tasting and light lunch. In the afternoon, continue to Bellagio on Lake Como, where you will have time for a walk along the waterfront or a relaxed aperitivo.
Overnight: Bellagio
Day 13 - Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands
Take a day trip to Lake Maggiore to visit the Borromean Islands. Explore Isola Bella, known for its terraced baroque gardens and palace, and experience the distinctive setting created by the lake and surrounding mountains.
Overnight: Bellagio
Day 14 - Villas and gardens of Lake Como
Spend the day on Lake Como visiting Villa Melzi and Villa Carlotta. These lakeside gardens combine formal design with a more natural landscape setting, shaped by the lake’s microclimate and views across the water.
Overnight: Bellagio
Day 15 - Departure
Transfer to Milan for onward travel, arriving at Malpensa Airport or Milano Centrale around midday.
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