May 6 (Wednesday) -- Scrovegni Chapel, Vicenza, and Villa Capra 'La Rotonda'
This morning we visit the famous Scrovegni Chapel to see the amazing  early 14th century Giotto frescoes depicting the life of Christ.  Leaving Padua, we travel to nearby Vicenza, an elegant city embellished by many palaces and public buildings designed by the architect Andrea Palladio and his pupils.  We'll enjoy a walking  tour of Palladian Vicenza with a local guide, which will include Piazza dei Signori, Corso Palladio, and the wonderful Teatro Olimpico.  We cap the day with a visit to Villa Capra 'La Rotonda,' one of Palladio's most famous buildings, then continue to our hotel in the center of Verona, a beautiful city on the banks of the Adige river with many historical buildings, including the stunning 1st century Roman Arena, and sites associated with Romeo and Juliet.  (B,D)

May 7 (Thursday) -- Giusti Gardens, Giardino di Pojega at Villa Rizzardi, and Verona
This morning we take a leisurely walk to the nearby Giusti Gardens, one of Italy's oldest and finest Renaissance gardens. Created towards the end of the 16th century, the terraced formal gardens were designed as a backdrop to the Giusti Palace, and include a cypress avenue, parterres, grottoes, fountains, mythological statues, and fine views of the city and the Tyrol Alps.  We then make a private visit to the historically important gardens at Villa Rizzardi, located a short drive out of the city.  Commissioned in 1783 by Count Antonio Rizzardi, the gardens include a spectacular green amphitheatre, belvedere, hornbeam alley, a stalactite temple, fountains, statues and a parterre.  We'll enjoy a light buffet lunch and sample some of the estate's wine in one of the villa's charming outbuildings, then return to Verona for a free afternoon of sightseeing or shopping. (B,L) 

Villa Melzi  (Photo copyright: Jeff Sainsbury)

May 8 (Friday) -- Isola del Garda, Bellagio, and Villa Melzi
Following breakfast  we journey west, stopping at Sirmione, a delightful small town clustered around a 13th century castle on the shores of Lake Garda, where we take the boat to Isola del Garda, a privately owned island with magnificent formal gardens and a fine collection of mature trees.  The island gardens are something of a well kept secret, beautifully cared for and only recently open to the public. Back on the mainland, we continue to Bellagio, beautifully set on a promontory overlooking the southern section of Lake Como.  We check into our hotel, then visit the elegant landscaped park at Villa Melzi on the edge of the town, an "enchanting spot, unequaled on earth in its loveliness," according to the writer Stendhal.   The neo-classical villa was built in 1810, and its richly planted grounds contain a fine collection of sculptures and ornamental buildings. (B,D)

May 9 (Saturday) -- Bellagio, Villa Cipressi, and Villa Monastero
Following a morning of free time in Bellagio we walk down to the jetty and board the boat for our trip across the lake to Varenna, home to two fine lakeside gardens.   We'll first visit the terraced garden at Villa Cipressi, dramatically set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake.  The garden has a fine collection of Mediterranean shrubs and climbers, and features pools, wonderful views, and winding steps leading down to the lakeshore.  We then walk to nearby Villa Monastero, a former convent dating from the early 13th century, to see its luxuriant garden of exotic plants, a waterfront loggia, fountains and statuary.  Return to Bellagio.  (B)

May 10 (Sunday) -- Villa Balbianello and Villa Carlotta
This morning's excursion takes us across the lake to Villa Balbianello, one of the most romantic properties in all of Italy.  Built for Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini at the end of the 18th century, the villa stands on the tip of a steep wooded promontory overlooking Lake Como. The panoramic terraced garden features an exquisite loggia amid lawns, clipped trees, shrubs and elegant statuary.  Later we visit the elegant Villa Carlotta, the gardens of which change from formal around the house to a lush English-style landscape garden containing fine trees, rhododendrons, and azaleas, which should be in full bloom in May.  Return to Bellagio. (B)

May 11 (Monday) -- Villa Cicogna-Mozzoni and Stresa
En route to Lake Maggiore, we visit Villa Cicogna-Mozzoni, the Renaissance terraced garden of which contains a lovely courtyard of pools and parterres leading to a steep water staircase.  We’ll enjoy lunch in the villa as guests of the owners, then make our way to our hotel in the charming resort town of Stresa. (B,L)

May 12 (Monday) -- Isola Bella, Villa Taranto, and Stresa
Today we travel by private boat to two superb but contrasting gardens.  The first, Isola Bella, is home to the 17th century Borromeo Palace and its wonderfully dramatic Baroque gardens of flower-festooned terraces, fountains, statues, and grottoes, while the superbly laid out and beautifully maintained botanical gardens at the Villa Taranto, developed from 1931 by Scotsman Capt. Neil McEacharn, contain many thousands of plants gathered from all over the world.   We'll return to the hotel early in the afternoon and the rest of the day is set aside for sightseeing or last minute shopping in Stresa.  We meet later for our farewell dinner. (B,D)

May 13 (Tuesday) -- Depart
We transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport this morning for the return flight home. (B)