21 May Why Guests Love Our Great Gardens of Italy Tour
Every spring, our Great Gardens of Italy tour takes guests through some of the country’s most beautiful historic gardens, from the countryside south of Rome to the lakes of northern Italy.
This April, we had two separate departures running within a few days of each other. Although the groups themselves were quite different, many of the same places and experiences stood out across both tours.
One of the interesting things about running the same itinerary multiple times in a season is that it becomes much easier to see which parts of the journey genuinely resonate with people. And interestingly, it is not always the grandest or most famous sites that guests remember most strongly.
Why Giardino di Ninfa Continues to Captivate Visitors
Among all the gardens we visit, one consistently leaves the strongest impression: Giardino di Ninfa.
Located south of Rome, Ninfa is regularly described by guests as either their favourite garden of the tour or a very close second. We have been visiting for more than ten years, and its appeal never seems to diminish.
Part of what makes the garden so memorable is its setting. Ninfa was created within the ruins of an abandoned medieval village, where climbing roses, flowering trees and soft planting gradually weave through old stone walls, towers and churches.
Although the atmosphere feels natural and almost wild in places, the garden is maintained with extraordinary care. That balance between structure and informality creates a feeling that is quite different from many traditional formal Italian gardens.
Many guests already know Ninfa before arriving, often through television programmes or photographs. But experiencing it in person is something else entirely.
Historic Italian Gardens visited on our Great Gardens of Italy tour
The tour also includes visits to some of Italy’s most historically important gardens, including Villa d’Este in Tivoli, famous for its Renaissance fountains and extraordinary influence on European garden design.
Yet one of the gardens that resonated most strongly with both groups this year was the Giardino Torrigiani in Florence.
Unlike many larger public gardens, Torrigiani still feels deeply personal. The garden remains privately owned by the Torrigiani family, and visits are arranged privately in advance.
For many years, guests were welcomed by the Marquis Torrigiani himself, whose warmth and charm became one of the highlights of the Florence stay. Today, members of the family still often guide visits, giving guests a rare insight into a historic Florentine garden that continues to evolve as a lived family property rather than simply a museum-like space.
Food and Local Experiences Along the Way
Although the tour is centred around visiting some of the best gardens in Italy, we have always believed the journey should feel balanced and immersive rather than simply becoming a checklist of famous sites.
Some of the moments guests talk about most afterwards are often the simplest.
For one group this year, a long Sunday lunch outside Modena became one of the unexpected highlights of the trip. There was nothing elaborate about it — just excellent local food, regional wine and a dining room full of Italian families enjoying lunch together.
For the other group, a meal in the Tuscan hills between garden visits became one of the defining memories of the journey.
Guests also consistently enjoy the visits to smaller local producers included throughout the itinerary.
Near Modena, we visit a traditional producer of authentic Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale, where guests learn about the lengthy ageing process that gives traditional balsamic vinegar its distinctive flavour. Later in the tour, on the journey between Verona and Lake Como, we stop in the Franciacorta wine region to visit a family-run sparkling wine producer.
These experiences help connect the gardens to the broader culture, food traditions and landscapes of each region we travel through.
Spring Gardens on the Italian Lakes
The final days of our Great Gardens of Italy tour are spent around the Italian lakes, which provide a spectacular conclusion to the journey.
When the timing of the season aligns, and the azaleas are in bloom, the lakeside gardens become particularly unforgettable.
Gardens such as Villa Carlotta and Villa Melzi combine dramatic mountain scenery with vibrant spring colour and elegant lakeside planting.
By this stage of the tour, guests have travelled through some of Italy’s most beautiful regions, but the atmosphere of the lakes still feels like a fitting finale.
Join Our Great Gardens of Italy Tour in 2027
Our 2027 Great Gardens of Italy tour dates are now available, and bookings have already opened for next season’s departures.
If you would like to experience some of Italy’s most beautiful gardens alongside exceptional food, historic villas, local producers and the landscapes of springtime Italy, you can explore the full itinerary on our website.