Garden tours of Italy Garden tours of Italy | Page 13

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day one : Arrive in Italy We book you onto the 14.00 British Airways flight from Gatwick to Venice , arriving at 17.10 . You are met by your small luxury coach and driver / escort who take you to Padua , a drive of less than an hour . As our hotel is in the historic centre , passengers and luggage will be transferred to the hotel by minibus . Time for a stroll in the city centre and to try one of our recommended restaurants for dinner ( not included ).

Day two : Visit Villa Barbarigo and Villa Emo at Rivella Today you are driven the short distance ( about 30 minutes ) south-west of Padua to the area of the Euganean hills for the two visits today . A local guide at the gardens will provide guided visits . Enjoy the sense of theatre from the setting of Villa Barbarigo , with its beautiful garden that has strong structural element but also is full of flowers as well as clipped hedges , box , magnolias and fishponds with waterplants . At Villa Emo , you will appreciate the very pretty borders and flowers , unusual in such a structured Italian garden . An English influence is evident in the double herbaceous borders and blocks of blue iris . The setting of the villa is a delight with the estate-owned apple orchards , corn fields and vineyards . Return to Padua for the evening and own dinner arrangements .

Day three : Explore Padua and visit the Botanic Gardens This morning you will enjoy a walking tour with a guide of the heart of Padua with its bridges , arcaded streets and piazzas and also the famous historic botanic gardens . Padua is a delightful , small city ( setting for Shakespeare ’ s Taming of the Shrew ) and home to an ancient university . The city has arcaded streets , piazzas and is intersected by branches of the Bacchiglione river . At the heart of Padua is the historic Botanic Garden , dating from 1545 and founded as an apothecary ’ s teaching garden for the University Medical School . Living plants from all over the world were brought here to be studied and for use in herbal medicine . The layout is DAY still very BY geometric DAY ITINERARY . The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore on your own . Own arrangements for dinner . Day one : Arrive in Rome and transfer to your

Day first four hotel : Villa Pisani and Verona You We include leave Padua the 08.30 this morning flight from for London the second Heathrow stay of that the tour arrives but in en Rome route Fiumicino you drive at along 12.00 the hrs Brenta . You are Canal met and by stop a

tour visit escort Villa Pisani who welcomes , one of the you most to the famous tour and of the then villas taken on the by small canal coach and resplendent to your hotel with in symmetrical Orvieto . Time water to unpack features and ,

rest before dinner . Dinner is not included but we will give you a list of recommended restaurants within walking distance of the hotel

Day two : Visit Villa Lante and Sacro Bosco at Bomarzo Depart from the hotel after breakfast to visit first of all Villa Lante ’ s garden , with abundant water features of cascades , fountains and grottoes , and superb stone carving . You enjoy a visit with a local guide of the gardens . Then you visit the bizarre collection of both eccentric and delightful stone ‘ beasts ’ and ‘ monsters ’, dating from the mid 16th Century . Enjoy this park in your own time before returning to the hotel . Own arrangements for dinner .

Day three : Visit Villa Farnese This is a half day excursion with your coach and driver to Villa Farnese , about 12 miles south of Viterbo . Hailed as a magnificent masterpiece , the garden here harmonises landscape , architecture and sculpture and bursts with a spectacular water feature , the Casino del Piacere , dating from about 1560 . The remainder of the day will be at leisure back at your hotel , with time to visit Orvieto . Own arrangements for dinner .

Day four : Travel to Frascati visiting Villa d ’ Este and Villa Adriana in Tivoli You leave your first hotel this morning and head south towards Rome for two incredible visits before reaching your hotel near Frascati , where you will be based for the next three nights . A packed lunch is provided . The first visit is to the Villa d ’ Este , now a UNESCO world heritage site and an impressive garden of man-made terraces , fountains , grottoes , nymphs , often considered a model for European gardens thereafter . Then you visit the nearby Villa Adriana , villa of the Emperor Hadrian and even in its ruined state is one of the most spectacular Roman gardens and an impressive monument to antiquity . The garden recreated a sacred landscape and a hydraulic system fed water to the main structures . Today it is still a magical site with wild flowers , meadows , tall cypresses , fishpond and pool remaining as features . You have time to settle in to your hotel near Frascati before dinner that is included at the hotel .

Day five : Visit the Giardini della Landriana The highlight today is a guided visit of the Giardini della

Giardini Giusti , Veneto statues and lawns . If possible we will visit Villa Trissino Marzotto before reaching Verona . Your hotel is in the city centre , a few minutes ’ walk from the Arena . This afternoon is at leisure for you to explore the city on your own . Own arrangements for dinner or visit one of our recommended restaurants .

Day five : Sightseeing of Verona and the Giardino Giusti You enjoy a morning ’ s sightseeing walking tour of Verona with a local guide , have free time for lunch , and then in the afternoon you visit the Giardino Giusti , one of the oldest Renaissance gardens in Italy and from which you will be able to admire panoramic views of the Alps and the Po valley . The highest level of the gardens is thick with 19th Century landscape-style planting and then lower down on the flat are formal box-edged parterres , lemons in pots and fountains . Cypress form a walk and there are beautiful views to the Alps and across the Po to Mantua . Own arrangements this evening for dinner .

Day six : Villa Rizzardi and Valpolicella wine tasting with lunch Your final full day on this tour takes you north of Verona towards the Valpolicella wine region and first a visit to Villa Rizzardi and its famous green theatre , the oldest in Italy . After the visit you will have a wine-tasting and a light lunch . Mid-afternoon return to Verona for your final night . Own arrangements .

Day seven : Return to London from Verona You will check-out after breakfast for a morning flight back to London , departing from Verona at 11.50 and arriving into Gatwick at 12.50 hrs . If you prefer we can arrange for you to have a full day in Verona and fly back on the evening flight at 22.10 arriving into Gatwick at 23.00 hrs ( transfers extra ). Or why not extend your stay in Italy and visit Lake Garda or Venice perhaps ? Ask us for details .

Dates and prices This tour departs on the following dates from London for these prices per person To Landriana be advised

. Occupying 25 acres and created since 1956 , this is a rarity in Italy due to the scale of the separate

Prices compartments are based and on the two combination people sharing of luxuriant a double English or twin room planting

. and formal Italian structure . The garden is a mass Supplements of colour from : April Single to October To be advised

. Whites , blues , olives , citrus , cottage-style mauves and yellows abound . Formal and

Deposit informal ‘ payable rooms ’ open

: £ 400 and per close person

in speedy succession . The influence of Russell Page is evident . A break for lunch is taken at the end of the visit here before you continue to Frascati where you have some free time to explore the town on your own . You are then taken back to the hotel for time to relax before dinner , which is included at the hotel this evening .

Day six : Visit the Giardino di Ninfa The garden of Ninfa is an amazingly special place and perhaps the perfect garden . A guide here conducts the visit . You will witness the verdant location , fed by streams from the hillsides , the impact on the plants of temperatures that rarely fall below 10 degrees Centigrade , the dilapidated walls of the village buildings that provide a microclimate for rare plants to flourish , trees and walls flower-covered and there are scents of rose and jasmine . This is a fantastic collection of plants from all over the world that flourish in this idyllic site . Time for lunch after the visit at Ninfa and then in the afternoon you are taken to Villa Aldobrandini for a private visit of the gardens ( not guided ). Included dinner this evening at the hotel .

Day seven : Visit the Gardens of Castel Gandolfo and then return from Rome to London Today there is a final garden to visit ; that of the gardens of the papal residence Castel Gandolfo . This is not a private visit with a guide but entrance to the gardens . Please note : no shorts or sleeveless tops . There is some free time at the end of the visit before departing for Rome airport and the flight at 15.15 hrs for London Heathrow , arriving in at 16.35 hrs .

Prices are based on two people sharing a double or twin room . Single supplement for use of double : £ 320 per person .

We include

• Flights with British Airways Gatwick to Venice , Verona to Gatwick in Euro traveller

• Transportation from Venice airport back to Verona airport in a small coach for maximum 14 people with one piece of luggage per person , English speaking driver-escort .

• Entrance tickets to the gardens mentioned with guided visits Sightseeing tour on foot of Padua and Verona

• Three nights ’ bed and breakfast in double or twin rooms at the Hotel Majestic Toscanelli , Padua

• Three nights ’ bed and breakfast in a deluxe double or twin room at the Palazzo Victoria , Verona

• Luggage and passenger transfer in Padua

Hotel Majestic Toscanelli Padua This is a 4 star hotel in the heart of the old town of Padua , traditional in style , furnished with antiques and with each bedroom having its own soft furnishings . Rooms have either bath or shower and wc and overlook the square at the front of the hotel or the courtyard at the back . The hotel offers a buffet breakfast and there is an American bar serving drinks and food .

Il Sogno di Giulietta Verona Il Sogno di Giulietta is a charming , elegant hotel perfectly positioned to experience the treasures of Verona . Located off the main street , looking over Juliet ’ s House and balcony the hotel is truly immersed in the romance of Verona . Guests of the hotel even have the unique opportunity to explore the courtyard underneath Juliet ’ s Balcony when it closes to the public at 7.30pm .

Different travel arrangements If you want us to arrange flights on other dates and from UK regional airports or to extend your holiday with a stay elsewhere in Italy , just let us know . If you are not arriving from the UK , then we can give you a price that excludes flights and perhaps with extra transfers included . We will adjust the details Deposit and payment the price : £ accordingly 400 per person .

Important We include information Please • Flights refer with to the British important Airways information London Heathrow detailed to on Rome page 15 in Eurotraveller of this leaflet .

• Transportation on the mainland in a small coach with one piece of luggage per person . Services of English speaking tour escort throughout .

• Services of a local guide for Villa Lante , Villa Farnese , Villa d ’ Este , Villa Adriana , Landriana , Ninfa Aldobrandini . Entrance tickets to the gardens visited .

• Three nights ’ bed and breakfast in a standard double or twin room at the Palazzo Piccolomini in Orvieto .

• Three nights ’ dinner , bed and breakfast at the Villa Grazioli , Frascati in a classic double or twin room in the Paggeria wing of the hotel .

Palazzo Piccolomini Orvieto This is a small , historic 4 star hotel with just 22 rooms in the centre of the hill-town of Orvieto , providing a charming and discreet location for your stay . The Palazzo is a renovated aristocratic town mansion dating from the end of the 16th Century and located within easy reach of the shopping area , the Cathedral and the lifts that operate from the parking areas below the town . There is a breakfast room and reading room . The hotel bedrooms are air-conditioned with digital TV . There is no restaurant at the hotel itself but many within easy walking distance .

Park Hotel Villa Grazioli Frascati The Park Hotel Villa Grazioli dates from the 16th Century . Once a Cardinal ’ s villa , it has been carefully restored as a 4 star hotel to combine its wealth of history and modern comforts for its guests . There are 62 rooms in the main Villa and two smaller villas , the Paggeria and the Limonaia . Rooms are elegant and restrained , and overlook the park , Frascati the Hill of Tuscolo or the direction of Rome . The Acquaviva Restaurant has an enchanting hanging garden with a view over Rome , and offers guests specialties of local and Mediterranean cuisine . There is an outdoor swimming pool . The classic rooms are located in the Paggeria wing of the hotel . Rooms can be upgraded on request at a supplement .

Different travel arrangements If you want us to arrange flights on other dates and from UK regional airports or to extend your holiday with a stay elsewhere in Italy , just let us know . If you are not arriving from the UK , then we can give you a price that excludes flights and perhaps with extra transfers included . We will adjust the details and the price accordingly .

The gardens at Ninfa For our complete range of Italian holidays see www . expressionsholidays . co . uk or telephone 01752 878075

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