Gardens of Rome

Day 1 London to Rome, Italy.

Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the Hotel Castel Vecchio in Castel Gandolfo and enjoy free time before we meet for dinner tonight. (D)

Day 2 Villa d’Este & Villa Adriana, Tivoli.

Today we visit two magnificent villas in Tivoli. First we visit Villa d’Este, masterpiece of the Italian Garden. With its impressive concentration of fountains, nymphs, grottoes, plays of water and music, it constitutes a much-copied model for European gardens in the Mannerist and Baroque styles. The imposing constructions and the series of terraces above terraces bring to mind the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World. The addition of water – including an aqueduct tunnelling beneath the city evokes the engineering skill of the Romans themselves. We will then visit Villa Adriana, an exceptional complex of classical buildings created in the 2nd century AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It combines the best elements of the architectural heritage of Egypt, Greece and Rome in the form of an ‘ideal city’. Emperor Hadrian built this country villa for himself and his court and it bears unique testimony to the grandeur and architectural and decorative characteristics of the period. Today it exists as an immense park, extending over 80 hectares and dotted with several Roman ruins as well as spas and houses from the 1700s. The grounds also contain the ‘Teatro Marittimo’, an artificial island that was a private residence of the Emperor. We return to our hotel for dinner. (B, D)

Day 3 Giardino di Ninfa.

After breakfast we head south for the Garden of Ninfa which draws together history, architecture and nature. The garden was declared a Natural Monument in 2000 and it comprises of: the Medieval ruined town, with its outer walls; the English-style romantic garden dating from the early 20th century; the 17th century Hortus Conclusus; the river and lake with their rare eco-system, and the setting itself is culturally, pictorially and environmentally exceptional. After lunch in a rural restaurant with typical local food we will return to the hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure. (B, L)

Please note: The Garden of Ninfa offers a limited number of public openings each year because of its delicate environmental balance (plants, birds and insects). The management reserves the right to cancel or to reschedule public openings in the event of bad weather, or other circumstances beyond its control.

Day 4 Vatican Gardens & Villa Doria Pamphili Park.

The Vatican Gardens have been a place of quiet and meditation for the popes since 1279 when Nicholas III (Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, 1277-1280) moved his residence back to the Vatican from the Lateran Palace. Within the new walls, which he had built to protect his residence, he planted an orchard (pomerium), a lawn (pratellum) and a garden (viridarium). The event is recorded among other places on a stone plaque which can be viewed in the “Sala dei Capitani” of the “Palazzo dei Conservatori” on Rome’s Capitoline Hill. Created around the hill of Saint Egidio (where the “Palazzetto del Belvedere” is located today) and the courtyards of the Vatican Museums, this was to be the first garden in the Vatican. Over the years more recent gardens have been planted, covering together with the original garden about half of the 44 hectares of Vatican City State. After a light lunch we will drive the short distance to the Villa Doria Pamphili Park. The villa was built in 1630 and the park surrounding it is popular with Romans escaping the bustle of the city. We will see the Casino del Bel Respiro and its geometric secret garden followed by some free time to relax or explore further at leisure. Maybe walk to the English style Theatre Garden or the Belvedere Lake. We return to the hotel later this afternoon and meet for dinner this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Giardini della Landriana.

Today we visit the magnificent Gardens of Landriana which are considered one of the most impressive gardens in Italy. Created in 1956, the 10 hectares of garden space were created by an English landscape designer named Russell Page and ordered by the owner of the site, the Marchesa Lavinia Taverna Gallarati Scotti who acquired the land when it was still completely barren. Page divided the garden into 32 different “rooms” with specific characteristics, such as the valley of ancient roses, the orange garden and the blue lawn. Return to the hotel for an afternoon and evening at leisure. (B)

Day 6 Castello Ruspoli.

Originally part of the papal estates, the Castello Ruspoli was built in 847 AD by Benedictine monks. In the course of its long history the fortress has been occupied by a series of noble families who added important modifications. The first feudal owner was Beatrice Farnese in 1531 who was followed by the Marescotti family. Today, the castle is as it was planned by Ottavia Orsini in 1610. The garden, which still retains its original form, must be considered one of the most beautiful parterres in Italy. Handel was hosted and composed during his Italian years at the castle. We will have a guided tour of the castle and gardens followed by lunch in a local restaurant. Return to the hotel for an afternoon and evening at leisure. (B, L)

Day 7 Barberini Gardens & Frascati.

A short distance from the hotel is the pope’s summer palace, Castel Gandolfo whose gardens are on the south-west shore of Lake Albano and built over the ruins of an ancient Roman villa, Albanum Domitiani. A guided tour will lead us to discover the natural beauty of the garden including a grand belvedere, a perfectly pruned Italian parterre, and the rich collection of archaeological treasures of the Pontifical Villa Barberini. Afterwards, we continue through the Roman hills to a wine cellar near Frascati where we will enjoy a wine tasting and light lunch. Return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure. We meet again this evening for a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Rome to London.

Check out after breakfast and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London. (B)