All tours on this holiday have now departed. Future departure dates will be confirmed in due course.
Hadrian's Villa
Hadrian's Villa
Hadrian's Villa
Rome
Tivoli
Bomarzo
Ninfa Gardens
Villa Lante
• Tivoli’s Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa
• Lunch with the principessa at Castello Ruspoli
• Parco del Mostri at Bomarzo and Villa Lante at Bagnaia
• The Gardens of Ninfa
• Frascati & Villa Grazioli
With its combination of landscaping, architecture, sculpture and painting, villa and garden design has often been claimed as the most complete of art forms - a veritable multimedia culture, and nowhere is this more richly demonstrated that in the Roman campagna. From classical times through to the Renaissance, the Baroque, and up to the present day the Lazio countryside has offered a rich body of work that has been both ground breaking and intentionally thought-provoking.
Some are calm oases hidden behind the walls of Rome's busy streets, others are rural retreats where the emperors and cardinals went to escape the congestion and bustle of the city. All are famous for their beauty; and each in their different ways set out to instil in the viewer the virtues of Nature – qualities that straddled notions of leisure (villegiatura), art, philosophy, religion, as well as the prevailing politics of the time.
Visits include Lake Bolsena, Villa d'Este, Hadrian's Villa, the Gardens of Ninfa, Parco del Mostri at Bomarzo and Villa Lante at Bagnaia.
Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Rome.
On arrival transfer by coach to Bolsena (approx. 2 hours) and the Royal Hotel for check-in. Tonight Peter will give a lecture then enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Villa Lante at Bagnaia, then lunch with the principessa at Castello Ruspoli
The garden at Villa Lante was designed for Cardinal Gambara, who had a taste for outdoor living and wished to extol his place as thinker, churchman and land owner. Perfectly proportioned and richly detailed, it features cascades, fountains, grottoes and classical sculptures, all with the aim of chronicling the passage from base nature to an eventual enlightenment.
We then drive to the beautiful Renaissance parterre garden at Castello Ruspoli at the top of the hill town of Vignanello. A highlight of the visit will be lunch hosted by the principessa, with dishes made from produce fresh from the estate.
On our return to the hotel stop to visit the church of Madonna della Quercia (Mary of the Oak Tree), a micro-example of the commitment to nature and religious belief.
Day 3: Parco del Mostri at Bomarzo, then Isola Bisentina
The Parco del Mostri (Park of Monsters) was devised by the architect Pirro Ligorio in the 16th century and is full of grotesque sculptures and mysterious small buildings conveying a narrative that continues to be the object of interpretation. It fell into disrepair over the centuries until 1954 when it was bought by Giovanni Bettini who has maintained it ever since. Salvador Dali made a short film about the gardens and based a painting on it which helped promote the restoration of the gardens.
After an independent lunch in Montefiascone, we coach back to Lake Bolsena to take a boat trip to the Isola Bisentina to view this famous garden island. Evening lecture from Peter tonight, then dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4: Frascati
Depart by coach to Frascati for three night stay. En route visit the palazzo and garden at Caprarola built by the cultured and powerful Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. Including will be its its cascade and subterranean water theatre, as well the important fresco decorations in the palazzo itself.
Free time for lunch (own expense) at Trevignano Romano on the shores of Lago di Bracciano.
Then continue to the ancient and bustling town of Frascati. After check-in at our hotel, we drive to the 16th century Villa Grazioli, a Cardinal’s villa in its own right dating back to 1580. It includes an intriguing series of frescoes on the ground floor, a fascinating ballroom painted by 18th century Roman painter Giovanni Paolo Panini, and lovely views towards Rome and the sea. A perfect place to sample the culture of villa life first hand. We enjoy a group dinner here then return to our hotel.
Day 5: Full day tour to Giardino di Ninfa
Morning visit to the enchanting Gardens of Ninfa romantically set within the remnants of old churches and houses of a medieval town destroyed in 1381 due to disagreements between the local nobility and the Roman papacy. In the early 20th century family descendants began a programme to create what is regarded as one of the most important English-style gardens in Italy.
Visit to the Baroque water theatre and garden at Villa Aldobrandini (subject to opening for private groups).
Day 6: Full day tour to Hadrian's imperial Villa, and the Villa d'Este
Morning visit to Hadrian's Villa, one of the best kept archaeological sites in Italy. Built at the foot of the Titburtine Hills by the Roman Emperior Hadrian between 118 and 138 AD becomes a model for much subsequent garden designing. The site includes buildings, baths, temples, barracks, theatres, gardens and fountains.
in the afternoon, set within the Tiburtine hills above, which were chosen by various aristocrats as the nearest place to escape the heat and pressure of Roman city life, we visit the 16th-century Villa d'Este in Tivoli. The extraordinary complex is famous for its steeply terraced landscaping adorned with tree and hedge lined avenues and a profusion of some 100 fountains. - a beautiful example of the Italian High Renaissance garden.
Farewell dinner tonight.
Day 7: Villa Farnesina
This morning we visit Villa Farnesina, the famous suburban villa with its seminal villa frescoes by Raphael and others. This is followed by free time in Trastevere for lunch (own expense). Transfer to the airport for your return flight to London.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions, weather, garden openings and tour manager's discretion.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 26 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Hotel Colonna, Frascati
Located in the centre of Frascati in an historic building, the three-star Hotel Colonna has twenty rooms all elegantly furnished in a classical style with en-suite bathroom with bath or shower, TV, telephone, wifi, air-conditioning, minibar, safe and hairdryer. The hotel offers a breakfast room and bar (located down stairs in the hotel), beautifully decorated with frescoes of some of the most important villas in Frascati, serving both sweet and savory options. The hotel does not have its own restaurant, but being in the centre of Frascati means there is plenty of choice for an evening meal. Please note the hotel does not have a lift.
Upgrades are available to a Junior Suite or Suite at the hotel. Junior Suite rooms have a view over the piazza and the 16th century Church of Gesu, while the Suite provides a very spacious and elegant room with a marble chimney from the 19th century.
Hotel Colonna Website
Review by Anonymous who travelled 03-May-2019
When I spoke with other members of the group I learned that they had been sent more information about the tour than I had received. My efforts to find out more on the website before I travelled were not rewarding. Frascati is an attractive town and made a good base but the hotel was barely adequate, cold rooms and a tiny shower.
Review by Hall who travelled 03-May-2019
Excellent value for money. Packed schedule, imaginative, revealing and a real education for the fascinated. Barbara's recommendation of solo visit to Parco Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli was thoroughly worth it. A high-light! Barbara also gave up a free morning to take a group of 8 to 3 different villas above Frascati - good of her. She was perhaps a little timid in her knowledge and this was a specialist tour, but a successful one certainly. We often begun very early, and could have perhaps benefited from, say, 9.00/9.30 starts to busy days. Meals out and locations excellent - except Rome central railway station! Wine and food good, and generous, while 18 in the group was a correct size. The significant feature of this tour was the wide variety of places/ gardens/ houses/ landscapes visited - comprehensive and outstanding in so many ways.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 03-May-2019
Barbara Santarelli, our guide, made this holiday well above the average. She was brilliant and so friendly and helpful. The hotel was a little 'frayed around the edges' but otherwise OK. The places visited were spectacular.
Review by Webb who travelled 03-May-2019
Highlight was the lunch in a Rome railway station self-service restaurant. With all of Rome at our feet, we have to eat there! Come on!!
Review by Philpot who travelled 04-May-2018
It was apparent that this tour had been put together from various different feeder organisations with different expectations. We signed up with the Art Fund whose brochure made no mention of a visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel but the tour leader said she was obliged to include this uncomfortable and unrewarding visit because it was listed in other brochures. Overall it was a very good trip and the tour leader was very positive in arranging extra events to fill free time in the programme. She managed the group well, including some difficult members, but we found her slightly casual and not always well-informed on the history of the sites visited.
Review by Sandars who travelled 04-May-2018
Review by who travelled 04-May-2018
Review by who travelled 04-May-2018
A lovely holiday! Barbara was a delightful and effective tour manager, the sites and guides were super, the hotel and its location most pleasant, our coach driver very co-operative. Scenery, gardens, ancient sites, history all around us-and glorious food and wine! Excellent!
Review by Lowry who travelled 04-May-2018
Barbara Santorelli is a superb companion/guide
Review by who travelled 04-May-2018
Day 2, could omit Grottaferrata visit and have longer in Castalgondolfo as currently insufficient time to visit papal summer palace. Vatican gardens very good but visit to Vatican museum and St Peter’s was very crowded, as it was when we have previously visited. Other gardens, Tivoli, Landriana, Ninfa, Villa Medici, Rome Botanics and rose garden were superb. Ostia Antica on last day also excellent.
Review by Coe who travelled 04-May-2018
Excellent Tour Manager in Barbara, Hotel fine but lacked a room/bar to relax in. Also air conditioning not allowed for some reason! One day on Rome would be better leaving out St Paul's Basillica & replacing it with Botannic Gardens. Otherwise a very enjoyable holiday.
Review by Mrs Sharon Butt who travelled 05-May-2017
Barbara our tour manager always went the extra mile and was one of the very best in our many years of travel. It was so nice that we were taken to see more sights/places than mentioned in the itinerary. These included additiona villas in Frascati and visits to Anzio and Nettuno.
Review by Mr John Allen who travelled 05-May-2017
We felt far to much walking, not made plain in brochure we saw. The two days in Rome were tedious and tiring and could have been cut to one day when we got there again a lot of walking up hill. When we arrived at Castel Condolfo, we arrived when the gardens were shut, so we missed them. The whole trip was saved by Villa D,Estes and the Thursdays two gardens Landriana and th mighty Ninfa. The hotel was fine apart from no hot water, we asked, but only got Luke warm water all week. You need Villas with gardens, not Villas and Gardens. By the way Barbara great !!
Review by Mr Stewart Dawson who travelled 05-May-2017
a very interesting trip. Too many guides waffled on and the Sistine Chapel is truly horrendous these days. Could not see a thing for tourists taking photos. The two gardens on the last day really made the trip; they were both magical.
Review by Mrs Joanna Bastin who travelled 05-May-2017
Very happy with tour manager and arrangements. Would prefer more time in gardens rather than Sistine Chapel and St. Paul in Rome - tour is Villas and Gardens not churches. Would like to have been allocated a seat next to my daughter on flights.
Review by Ms Susan Knights who travelled 05-May-2017
I think all of us read what we want to see and we misread the title of this tour to read only the word Gardens so we did not expect so many villas without gardens. However the gardens we did visit were excellent. Maybe you should consider a Gardens ONLY tour in this area Having to go into Rome from Frascati on two days was very slow on these roads.
Review by Blacklaws who travelled 05-May-2017
A most most enjoyable, well organised and managed holiday. Barbara our tour manager was first class in all aspects. The accommodation was perfect located in the hills outside of Rome in a delightful town with plenty of facilities without being touristy. The gardens at Ninfa were particularly attractive.
Review by Mr John Korna who travelled 06-May-2016
No luggage labels sent to help tour manager identify us initially. Some time wasted waiting for guides etc. However, overall the trip was enjoyable and the relatively small size of the party made it a friendly and informal experience,
Review by Mr & Mrs J Sale who travelled 06-May-2016
A most enjoyable trip.
Review by Mrs Joan Wray Smith who travelled 06-May-2016
Hotel central, friendly and obliging but many of us felt the lack of a room to sit and chat other than in the bedroom. Coaches v.comfortable. Barbara Santorelli was excellent - experienced, caring and conscientious. Apart from the excellent set-piece visits such as Villa d'Este and Ninfa, some of the days were thin - we did not see the gardens at Castle Gandolfo and the town is just a tourist place. Villa Medici had little to offer. The Basilica should be removed from the itinerary - it is mostly reproduction due to the fire and the wonderful cloisters did not make up for the extended Catholic propaganda from the Guide. Many felt the same about the Vatican gardens.
Review by Mrs Deirdre McLellan who travelled 06-May-2016
Review by Mr Neil Buckley who travelled 17-April-2015
As it was the first trip there were a few problems to iron out. Barbara our guide was helpful. The hotel was adequate but the food was poor. There was one lady chef for 38 people and the standard was not very good. It took 1.5hours to get into the centre of Rome on the monday morning. That visit to the Vatican gardens, museums, Sistine Chapel and st Paul's outside the walls was far too long for everyone. We would have missed the museums and the Sistine Chapel completely as a group of 37 plus 2 guides was far too large. Personally, we felt like sheep being herded through the Sistine Chapel. The Gardens and Villas bits were lovely especially Ninfa. it was too early in the season for a lot of the gardens-especially the rose garden in Rome. The timing of the trip would be better in early May.
Review by Mrs Anessa Kadow who travelled 17-April-2015
The Botanical Gardens were not of your usual high standard and the Roses were not in bloom in the Rose Garden. I thought that the Medici Villa + gardens could have been replaced by other items. The garden was not authentic and no reference to future plans. I studied Garden History with Birkbeck. Barbara arranged to us to visit Ostia Antica on the way back to the airport which warranted a full day's browsing. Very interesting place. The food in the hotel improved with Barbara's prompting. The hotel staff however did all they could to make our stay lovely which they did.
Review by Mrs Mary Clark who travelled 17-April-2015
Tour was poorly researched, hotel in too remote position, food poor. Numbers should have limit of 20. Tips should be included in tour price. 2 hours each way coach to Rome unacceptable, should be 2 centre tour. Brochure description appeared hotel in Frascati!
Review by Mrs Jane Collier who travelled 17-April-2015
Travel Editions feedback:
Thank you for your comments and from yours and other clients on this tour the itinerary will be amended for 2016.
