September 19 (Sunday) -- Depart
Board the plane for your overnight flight to Rome.

September 20 (Monday) -- Arrive, Civita Castellana, and Castello Ruspoli
On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, we transfer to Civita Castellana, a charming old town in the Lazio countryside north of Rome.  After checking in to our hotel, enjoy free time exploring the town or relaxing, then we pay an exclusive visit to nearby Castello Ruspoli, home to magnificent formal parterres which retain their original 17th century layout.  We also tour the historic castle, before returning to the hotel for an evening at leisure.  (B)

September 21 (Tuesday) -- Palazzo Farnese, Viterbo, and Villa Lante
Today we visit two fine historic gardens, starting at Palazzo Farnese, the former16th century country residence of Cardinal Farnese II, a nephew of the Pope.  Designed by the great Renaissance architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, the palace's gardens are noted for their fine statuary, huge fountains, box parterres, and grotto  Following free time to wander the narrow streets of the walled medieval city of Viterbo, we visit Villa Lante, one of Italy's great gardens.  Considered Vignola's masterpiece, this magnificent garden has tiered fountains and sculptured cascades which overlook a formal garden of clipped boxwood, pavilions, and a fountained water parterre.  Return to Civita Castellana.  (B,D)

September 22 (Wednesday) -- Parco dei Monstri, Bomarzo and La Foce
On leaving Civita Castellana we head north to Tuscany, stopping en route at Bomarzo to see the fascinating 16th century Parco dei Monstri, with its strange lopsided buildings and huge sculptures of creatures and mythical monsters.  We then journey to the Renaissance-style gardens at Villa La Foce, described by one garden writer as 'a green oasis in the barren Siena countryside, with elegant walled enclosures, soaring cypress walks, native cyclamen and box-edged beds, flowerbeds, lawns, and wildflower meadows.'  On leaving La Foce, we continue to our hotel in the Tuscan countryside.  (B,D) 

September 23 (Thursday) -- Villa Chigi Cetinale and Siena
This morning we travel to Villa Chigi Cetinale, a stunning private residence with elegant gardens of box parterres, lemon trees, fine statuary, and finely planted English-style areas. We continue to Siena for free time to explore this wonderful medieval city, with ramparts, palaces, an ornate cathedral, and narrow streets that wind their way to the famous scallop-shaped Piazza del Campo.  We make the short drive to Florence and check into our city center hotel.  (B) 

September 24 Friday)  -- Villa Gamberaia, Villa Medici di Fiesole, and Free Time in Florence
Two fine gardens in the hills around Florence feature this morning.  First we enjoy fabulous views of the city from the garden of Villa Gamberaia, with its long bowling green lawn, clipped hedges, lemon trees, water gardens, and mosaic paths. We then visit the impressive terraced gardens of historic Villa Medici in Fiesole, again with breathtaking views of Florence.  We return to the city for a free afternoon of sightseeing.  (B)

September 25 (Saturday) -- Private Garden, Lucca, and Villa Reale di Marlia
We journey out of Florence this morning, past acres of plant nurseries, to visit two gardens close to the wonderfully preserved walled city of Lucca.  Our first stop is a private villa where we enjoy an exclusive tour of the beautifully laid out and colorfully-planted gardens.  We then travel to Lucca, noted for its elegant squares and tree topped walls, where we visit the charming 18th century gardens at Palazzo Pfanner followed by free time in the city.  We cap the day with a visit to the stately 17th century gardens at Villa Reale di Marlia, once home to Napoleon's sister, which feature a number of superb 'garden rooms,' including the unforgettable lemon garden and a green amphitheatre of yew and box.  Return to Florence.  (B,L)
 
September 26 (Sunday) -- Villa Capponi, Villa D'Este, and Rome
Before leaving Florence, we pay a specially arranged visit to the charming formal gardens of Villa Capponi, in part designed by Cecil Pinsent in the 1930s.  Heading back to Rome, we make a stop for lunch at Orvieto, home to one of Italy's greatest cathedrals, then continue to Tivoli, in the foothills of the Apennines, to visit Villa D'Este, the famous terraced Renaissance, with spectacular water features, including the Walk of One Hundred Fountains and the Water Organ, grottoes, mosaics, and statuary.   We make the short journey to Rome and check into our city center hotel.  (B,D)

September 27 (Monday) -- Vatican: Gardens and Museums and Free Time in Rome
This morning we travel across the city to the Vatican for a tour of its exquisite gardens, with superbly maintained formal areas, flowerbeds, elegant garden buildings, and winding paths disposed around an English-style landscape park.  There will be time to visit the Vatican museum and St Peter's before we return to the hotel for free time for sightseeing in the Eternal City.  (B)
 
September 28 (Tuesday) -- Garden of Ninfa, Sermoneta, and Gardens of Landriana
Today's excursion takes us south of Rome to two wonderful but very different gardens.  First stop is Giardino di Ninfa, described by Penelope Hobhouse as a 'paradise of flowers, water, and sunlight' and 'Italy's most romantic garden.'  These enchanting tree and rose-covered gardens surround a ruined medieval village.  We then enjoy time in the pretty hilltop town of Sermoneta, before continuing to the Giardini della of Landriana, a modern garden with English-influenced 'garden rooms,' water features, and parterres, in part designed by Russell Page.  Return to Rome (B,D)

September 29 (Wednesday) -- Depart
This morning we transfer to Rome's Fiumicino Airport for your flight home. (B)