VILLAS AND ROMANTIC GARDENS OF ITALY

Spring is recommended for this tour, escorted by our professional tour leader. You will he able to see the flowers and gardens in full bloom. Visiting carefully restored gardens of earlier Roman times, great public parks, and Renaissance villas, as well as private gardens, by special invitation to members of the tour. The combination of gardens, villas, museums, great cathedrals and art treasures, will make this a complete visit to Italy for those who wish to see, visit and absorb the complete sights and sounds of this beautiful country.

Gardens highlighted are:

in Rome: Villa Borghese. Villa Albani, Villa Ada, Villa Medici and more.

In Florence: Boboli Gardens, Villa Belvedere, Villa Capponi and more.

In Stresa: Isola Bella, Pallanza Villa Taranto, one of the world's most beautiful and greatest botanical gardens.

Villa Sigurta in Valeggio sul Mincio; Lake Como: Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta, Villa d'Este. Wherever you go in Italy, there is a wealth of villas and gardens from which to choose and plan the perfect itinerary for your group. Only daily bed and continental buffet breakfast basis.

No meals are included in this tour

Fully escorted tour with our experienced multilingual tour manager.

1st day - Rome

Arrival at airport and transfer to hotel. Remainder of the morning at leisure. In the afternoon you will enjoy a tour of the Quirinale, former home of the kings, now the residence of Italian Presidents.

The Trevi Fountain and Church of St. Peter in Chains, housing Michelangelo's; statue of Moses, the Unknown Soldier Memorial, the Roman Capital (now City Hall), remains of temples and triumphal arches, the Forum, where Romans used to assemble for public functions, Rome's famous landmark, the Colosseum, where the Romans »f old time watched their cruel games, and the Circus Maximus, where horse races took place 20-23 centuries ago.

2nd day - Rome

Full day dedicated to the Romans villas. Morning visit will start with Vatican gardens (with a specific Vatican's guide) then to Villa Farnesina, Villa Sciarra, to end the morning to Villa Borghese, Afternoon excursion to Frascati to visit the Villa Aldobrandini and the Villa Falconieri. Overnight accommodation.

3rd day - Rome - Tivoli - Rome

Long morning excursion to Tivoli to visit Villa Adriana, Villa d'Este and Villa Gregoriana. Early afternoon return to Rome, and remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight accommodation

4th day - Rome - Caserta - Sorrento

Early morning departure. At Caserta stop to visit the only serious rival of Versailles Palace, the Royal Palace and beautiful surrounding park: time free in Caserta for independent lunch and then in the afternoon continuation to Sorrento, with two hours stop in Napoli to visit one of the nice garden of the city. Overnight accommodation.

5th day - Sorrento - Capri - Sorrento

Full day excursion by boat to the magic island of Capri to visit the unparalleled scenic beauties of this fashionable, quaint dream island, a true pearl of the Bay of Naples. Coaches depart hotels at 08,00 a.m. for Pier, from here a leisurely boat trip of about 50 minutes takes us to the island. The morning will be devoted to a trip by car to Anacapri, along a spectacular panoramic road, to see Axel Munthe's famous Villa San Michele.

After independent lunch return to Capri and its picturesque Piazzetta. In the afternoon walk to Emperor Augustus' Gardens or free time for an optional visit (by launch and boat) to the Blue Grotto. Then return by funicular to the pier, and then by boat to Sorrento. Overnight accommodation.

6th day - Sorrento - Ravello - Caprarola - Bagnaia - Orvieto

Morning visit to the beautiful Villa Rufolo at Ravello. Proceed northwards to Latium with arrival late in the morning via Caprarola to visit the Renaiss2ince Villa Farnese with his terraced built park with fountains and grottos. After time free for independent lunch proceed to Bagnaia to visit Villa Lante. Prior to arrival in the stunning, attractive Orvieto, stop in Bolsena to see the lake. Overnight accommodation.

7th day - Orvieto - Siena - Florence

Morning departure to Florence via Siena (short visit).

Siena, is one of the best preserved medieval towns of Italy. renowned for its priceless art treasures and for the shell-shaped Campo square, where the traditional Palio horse-race is held twice a year.

After lunch (optional), continue to Florence and start a sightseeing tour including the Duomo. the Baptistery with the golden doors by Ghiberti, Giotto's Bell Tower, Piazza Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia della Signoria, the Academy of Fine Arts with the original David by Michelangelo. Overnight accommodation.

8th day - Florence

Full day visit of the following Florentine villas all located around the city: Poggio a Caiano, I Collazzi, La Pietra, Le Rondini, Poggio Imperiale, Il Giullarino, Capponi, La Petraia, I Tatti. It is a very busy day but it will allow you to visit some of the nicest and unique gardens of Tuscany nearly all created in the Renaissance. Overnight accommodation.

9th day - Florence - Venice

Morning visit to Boboli Gardens and Le Cascine Park. In the afternoon departure to Venice with short stop in Padua to admire St. Anthony's Basilica and a garden in Padova. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel by private motor launch is included in Venice; overnight accommodation.

10th day - Venice

After breakfast start of a half day sightseeing guided walk tour around the city, which includes besides: many other points of interest, a visit to the Palace of the Doges (Ducal Palace) and to the Basilica of St. Mark. Guided walk ends at about noun.

Rest of day at leisure in Venice; to experience the city or optional excursion to the Islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Overnight accommodation at the hotel.

11th day - Venice - Mira - Strà - Vicenza - Verona

Early morning departure from Venice to visit  some of the famous Palladian villas. Will start in Strà with Villa Pisani then at Mira Villa Foscari La Malcontenta. Free time for independent lunch an then in the afternoon continue to Vicenza to visit Villa Capra La Rotonda; at Lonigo Villa Valmarana and Villa Piovene. Late arrival in Verona for overnight accommodation at the hotel.

12th day - Verona - Valeggio sul Mincio - Pallanza - Como

Morning departure to the Lakes district, preceded by a visit in nearby Valeggio sul Mincio to the Sigurtà Gardens. Upon arrival around noon in Pallanza, a nice resort of Lake Maggiore, visit of the famous gardens of Villa Taranto and surely to the botanical garden in the Madre's Island the biggest among the Borromeo Islands. Late arrival in Como after having paid a visit to Villa Carlotta and Villa D'Este. Overnight accommodation at the hotel.

13th day - Como - Milan

After breakfast time free in Como for personal visits until transfer to the airport or railway station and end of our service.