Villa Melzi (Photo
copyright: Jeff Sainsbury)
Two of Italy's most romantic regions and
13 memorable gardens feature on this custom-designed tour.
Starting in the historical city of Verona, home of Romeo and
Juliet and some of Italy's loveliest squares, we explore the
wonderful gardens and magnificent cities of the Veneto --
Venice aside, a region visited by relatively few Americans.
Garden highlights include the wonderful 17th century Baroque
gardens at Valsanzibio, the Renaissance masterpiece at the
Giusti gardens, and the superb English-influenced gardens at
Villa Emo, where we also enjoy an unforgettable lunch with
owner Countess Marina Emo. We also spend a magical day in
Venice, where we search out some of this amazing city's
hidden treasures and secret gardens, and explore the elegant
city of Vicenza, where the great Renaissance architect
Andrea Palladio lived and designed many palaces and public
buildings. Beautiful Bellagio and the resort town of Stresa
will be our bases in the enchanting Lake District, a dreamy
region where the snow-capped Alpine peaks rise up from the
blue lakes to provide a breathtaking backdrop. For
centuries this part of Italy has attracted artists,
aristocrats, the wealthy and the well-connected from all
over Europe, many of whom built seasonal lakeshore homes
around which they laid out elegant formal gardens or
luxuriant landscape parks. Villa Balbianello, Villa
Carlotta, and Isola Bella, one of the world's great gardens,
are just three examples of lakeside villa gardens
that we will visit on this tour. And as always, throughout
the tour we'll get off the beaten track, allow time for
personal sightseeing or shopping, savor regional cuisine and
local wines, and lodge in well-situated, first-class hotels.
Land Tour Price:
9 Nights -- $4250.00
Single supplement: $725
Meals included: all Breakfasts (B), 3 Lunches (L), 3
Dinners (D)
Limited to: 18 members
ITINERARY
May 10 (Saturday) -- Flight to Milan
Board the plane for the overnight flight to Milan Malpensa.
May 11 (Sunday) -- Arrive, Verona, and Giardino di
Pojega at Villa Rizzardi
Arrive Milan Malpensa Airport and transfer to our hotel in
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. After checking into our hotel, you'll be free to
rest or to explore the city's atmospheric squares and narrow
streets. Later in the afternoon, we'll meet for 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. After sampling some of the estate's wine, we
return to the hotel and gather later for a welcome dinner.
(D)
May 12 (Monday) -- Villa Valsanzibio and Villa Emo
Today's excursion takes us to the southeast of
Verona into the Euganean Hills. We first visit Villa
Valsanzibio (also known as Villa Barbarigo Pizzoni Ardemani)
to see its magnificent Baroque gardens dating back to 1669,
with fountains, water games, parterres, and a maze. We then
make the short journey to 16th century Villa Emo, where
Countess Marina Emo will host a special lunch for us in her
wonderful Palladian-style mansion. Following lunch, the
Countess will take us around the lovely flower-filled
gardens which she, and her mother before her, have created
since 1966. We return to Verona. (B,L)
Giusti
Gardens (Photo
copyright: Jeff Sainsbury)
May
13 (Tuesday) -- Giusti Gardens, Vicenza, and Villa Capra
'La Rotonda'
This morning we travel to
the outskirts of Verona to visit the 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 the short journey to Vicenza, an elegant city
embellished by many palaces and public buildings
designed by the architect Andrea Palladio and his
pupils. We'll take an orientation tour of Palladian
Vicenza with a local guide, which will include Piazza
dei Signori, Corso Palladio, and the wonderful Teatro
Olimpico, followed by free time to sightsee or browse
Vicenza's boutique-lined streets. Before returning to
Verona, we cap the day with a visit (not including the
interior) to Villa Capra, more commonly known as La
Rotonda, one of Palladio's most famous buildings. (B)
May 14 (Wednesday) -- Venice: Walking Tour of
the City's Hidden Treasures and Secret Gardens
Today we experience the highlights of the ancient city
of Venice, one of the few cities in the world that can
truly be described as unique. We take a boat down the
Grand Canal to St Mark's Square where we meet our local
guide for a tour of the high spots, hidden treasures,
and secret gardens of this remarkable city. During the
tour, we'll pause for lunch at a family trattoria to
sample some typical Venetian cooking. Following the
tour, there will be time for individual sightseeing or
shopping before we return to Verona. (B,L)
May 15 (Thursday) -- Free Time in Verona,
Bellagio, and Villa Melzi
Following a free morning
for individual sightseeing in Verona, we journey west to
Bellagio, beautifully set on a promontory overlooking
the southern section of Lake Como. We 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. From here it's just a short
drive to our hotel. (B,D)
May 16 (Friday) -- Villa
Cipressi and Villa Monastero
After breakfast 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.
Later in the afternoon, we return to Bellagio. (B)
May 17 (Saturday) -- Villa Balbianello, Villa
Carlotta, and Free Time in Bellagio
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. We return to our hotel for free time
in Bellagio. (B)
May 18 (Sunday) -- Villa Cicogna-Mozzoni and
Stresa
En route to Lake Maggiore, we visit Villa
Cicogna-Mozzoni, whose Renaissance terraced garden
contains a courtyard of pools and parterres leading to a
steep water staircase. We’ll enjoy lunch in the villa
as guests of the owners, and then make our way to our
hotel in the charming resort town of Stresa. (B,L)
May 19 (Monday) -- Isola Bella, Villa Taranto,
and Free Time in Stresa (or optional visit to Isola
Madre)
This morning we travel by private boat to two
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. This afternoon, you
have the choice of returning to the hotel for free time
in Stresa, or continuing by boat to the luxuriant
botanical gardens on nearby Isola Madre, another of the
private Borromean Islands. We meet later for our
farewell dinner. (B,D)
May 20 (Tuesday) -- Depart
We transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport this morning for
the return flight home. (B)
Included in the tour price:
-- 9 nights accommodation in first class hotels with private
bathroom
-- tour coach throughout with P.A. system and
air-conditioning
-- entry to all gardens and sites as per the itinerary
-- all breakfasts and other meals as indicated in the tour
itinerary
-- services of tour manager/guide, usually Jeff Sainsbury,
from Venice Airport until departure of return flight
-- tips for hotel porters, bellmen, doormen, waiters at tour
meals, and sightseeing guides
-- arrival and departure transfers (certain restrictions
apply; please ask for details)
Not included in the tour price:
-- airfare and airport taxes
-- excess baggage charges
-- personal expenditure such as room service, telephone
calls, drinks, and optional activities
-- meals other than those specified in the itinerary
-- tour manager and driver gratuities
-- travel insurance
-- any other items not specifically included
