Roman Villas and Renaissance Garden Tour of Italy

Borghese Park fills with visitors each morning all eager to stroll, jog or cycle along the walkways. An 18th-century replica of the Temple of Aesculapius adorns the shores of the artificial lake as orange trees bloom in the grove that overlooks the manicured hedges of the English style garden. Your guide will lead you through the marvels of the public space that covers nearly 200 acres. Fern and cypress trees frame Siena Square and couples row boats along the rippling waters of the lake.

The vastness of the park borders contrast with the cozy ambiance of the private garden tucked behind your villa. After traversing the historical walkways, halls, and labyrinthine walls of ancient Rome through the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, your guide will lead you into Vatican City. The gardens spread over more than 55 acres and reach their zenith at 200 feet above sea level. Stone walls frame the north, south, and western edges of the gardens and accentuate the Renaissance and Baroque styles found throughout.

Stone pines and cedar trees grow along the edges of the Renaissance labyrinth and wandering through the gardens of the Vatican will bring a sense of ease and serenity. The tranquil ambiance will allow you to reflect on the beauty of the garden, the history of Vatican City, and the artistry of the monuments that are dedicated to patron saints, including Our Lady of Guadalupe. In the evening, you will step into the galleries of the Vatican on an after-hours tour for another uniquely peaceful experience in keeping with your garden itinerary.

The morning light will wash over the tan hues of Palazzo Barberini, and the exuberant palace features stunning gates, an elliptical spiral staircase, and beautiful terraced gardens that offer a sense of solitude amidst the endless movement of Rome. Your guide will greet you at your hotel and escort you to the town of Tivoli, which is located in the hills outside of Rome. The town became a center for Roman aristocracy eager to escape the summer heat of the city and embrace the cool climate of the summit that overlooks the Aniene River. Hadrian constructed his villa over nearly 300 acres in the 2nd century AD.

The preserved estate offers insight into the aesthetic of the Emperor who commissioned life-sized replicas of structures he found interesting along his travels across the empire, with a particular focus on figures from Greece and Egypt. The scent of sunbaked stone fills the air as the water in the original reflective ponds continues to reflect the remaining ruins found around the villa. The Canopus represents a branch of the Nile River and contains a buttress wall along the east. The Emperor would hold summer banquets along the edges of the pool set beneath the lingering statues that span the nearly 400-foot long reflective pool. You will discover a replica of the iconic image of Hermes standing beneath an archway while the original statue is on display in the museum next to the Canopus.

In the morning, the aromas of freshly baked brioche and decadent espresso will overtake the scent of hyacinth and wisterias. Locals return to paths of Borghese Park as the returning sunlight shines off of the opulent façade of the Villa. Your private transfer will greet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast and escort you north towards Florence. Stop in the Tuscan countryside to experience the renowned beauty of the country roads lined with cypress trees and oaks shading the edges of expansive vineyards as the lush hills roll into the horizon. Medieval towns crown the distant hilltops and you will arrive at a gorgeous villa near Chianti to view the Renaissance architecture and landscape as preserved for hundreds of years.

Double columns frame the white plaster façade as remains of the original medieval watchtower continue to decorate the grounds. The garden was crafted in the 18th century with a double staircase and manicured hedges, and the spiced aroma of cypress trees sweeps across the gardens. Wisterias overflow at the base of the villa, turning the mustard hues emerald. The hedges have unusual geometric shapes that hide the fragments of ancient ramparts as they run along the grounds. You will continue to the medieval town of Siena to view the strong walls and narrow cobbled lanes, stopping to sample an array of wines and cheeses before arriving in Florence for the evening.

Florence is the city of the Medici and Michelangelo’s David, a city of Renaissance allure and the flowing waters of the Arno River. Wake up to the beauty of your centrally located palazzo hotel, nestled among the historical buildings of Florence and with the sanctuary of its own private garden. The streets in the morning fill with the aromas of caramelized brioche that drift from bakeries that are tucked into the medieval alleyways. The city of cobblestone and historical homes has a surprising amount of greenery that adds a touch of charm to the splendor of the art and architecture that are abounding throughout the city.

Your guide will greet you after an early breakfast to introduce you to the Uffizi Gallery, which is located next to Piazza Signoria. The palace grounds were originally constructed in the 16th century as the magistrate’s office but soon housed the collection of art crafted under the patronage of the Medici family. The marble hallways and large, gilded windows enhance the luster of the old structure. The galleries feature statuary and paintings crafted by some of Western Europe’s most famous artists. Your connections to the beauty of manicured gardens and nature will draw you to Botticelli’s La Primavera, which was crafted in the late 15th century.

The allegorical context of the work commemorates the beauty of nature and the cycle of the seasons, along with the nature of the human condition. Your guide will lead you through the galleries, eventually taking you through the Vasari Corridor, a hidden passageway that travels over the Ponte Vecchio Bridge and connects to the Pitti Palace in the neighborhood of the Oltrarno. Exit the passage and take to the lavish Boboli Gardens to enjoy the open air along the more than 10 acres of space.

Students and crewmembers take to the waters of the Arno River at dawn to row against the strong current. The sunlight shines on the surface water and spreads over the rooftops of the Renaissance city. Cafes place tables and chairs along the cobbled lanes and around the piazzas where patrons can enjoy a strong espresso while watching the city pass by. You will meet your guide in the morning ready to indulge in the cultural history of Florence, from the unique architectural embellishments of Santa Croce Basilica to the marvels of the brickwork dome that adorns the central Cathedral, referred to as the Duomo. Your guide will point to the distinctive character pieces found across the city, including the stone bull’s head that crowns the capital on Santa Maria del Fiore Church.

A private room in the Old Palace was once the hidden refuge for Francesco I de’ Medici, the Duke of Tuscany at the turn of the 17th century. The vaulted room was used as a treasure trove and filled with illustrated panels and artistic works that were collected by the Duke over a lifetime of travels. The center of the studio features a fresco that depicts Prometheus receiving jewels, which blends religious motifs with mythological figures and exemplifies the Renaissance and Baroque movements. While many people linger beside the baptistery looking at an intricate copy of the “Gates of Paradise,” your guide will lead you into the Museo dell’Opera, located behind the Duomo, to view the original three doors molded in bronze.

Bakeries along the open roads of Florence fill their display cases with lavish cakes and colorful fruit tarts. The aroma of schiacciata, Tuscan focaccia bread, drifts through the doors with an aroma of olive oil and salt. Your guide will greet you in your hotel lobby after breakfast and lead you through the familiar avenues of Florence, including the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. Travel along through the Oltrarno neighborhood to reach the Viale Francesco Petrarca. The outer walls hide the 17 acres of private gardens, the largest of any private green space in Europe located within a city.

The botanical gardens began in the 16th century and have retained a connection to the arts and sciences over the centuries. The thick walls frame a small door that will turn your tour into an adventure inside a secret garden. The doorway offers you an unforgettable entrance into an idyllic oasis of 19th-century garden design as it overtakes the 16th-century villa grounds. Vegetable gardens grow tomatoes, eggplants, and zucchini as sculpted lions adorn the walkways and pop their heads out from the underbrush.

The city walls were built in the 16th century under Cosimo I de’ Medici and brush against the borders of the villa to mark the former boundaries of the city. Masonic symbols adorn the neo-Gothic tower as the feature spirals upwards into the sky. The estate maintains more than 4,000 species of plants that fill the air with the essence of oak, cedar, and horse-chestnut trees.

The streets of Florence return to life in the morning with locals frequenting their favorite cafes for a quick espresso before venturing to work. The bells of the Duomo ring against the new day and join the sound of footsteps that are echoing against the cobblestones. Today your guide will escort you out of Florence and lead you back towards Rome. En route, you will stop at a private villa located on the outskirts of the Eternal City that is known for its spectacular gardens. Villa Lante was erected in the 16th century and gained notoriety a century later due to the identical square houses embellished with Mannerist style.

The gardens provide an enchanting ambiance and are filled with the sounds of waterfalls, trickling fountains, and the beauty of hidden grottoes. Water moves as if choreographed to dance along the terraces, and the twin houses stand to one side of the Quadrato with the remaining three sides framed by tall box hedges. The centerpiece fountain rises out of a larger body of water decorated with stone boats. The terraces reach a height of more than 50 feet with each level providing a splendid panorama of the garden, a series of shaded seats, and a long stone table on which Cardinals presumably held feasts.

In the morning, the sunlight will pierce the windows of the Villa Borghese, a 17th-century palace established under the patronage of Cardinal Borghese. The interior holds the galleries of the Borghese Museum, home to one of the largest private art collections of Western European works, which includes Venus as crafted by the sculpture Canova. The Trevi Fountain will be empty of visitors, allowing the pearlescent pillars to glimmer above the rushing turquoise waters as you take it all in one last time. Your private transfer will greet you at your hotel when you are ready and escort to Fiumicino Airport for your flight home.