June 2015 Garden Tour of Tuscany

In partnership with Reems Creek Landscape and Garden Center in Weaverville, NC, these will be eleven splendid and unforgettable days across the heart of Tuscany, exploring the most spectacular villas and gardens imaginable.

June in Tuscany provides the finest weather possible for our tour: gardens are in bloom, poppies still show their crimson petals and olive trees are in bloom. The countryside is alive with spring, with color, with unforgettable vistas.

From the Villa Gamberaia above Settignano near Florence to the cypress framed gardens of villas near Siena, the tour will offer those who have an interest in, perhaps a passion for, the gardens and beauty of Tuscany the opportunity to experience bella Toscana at the best possible time of year.

A Florentine garden expert will lead this extraordinary tour. With over forty years of experience designing and working in many of the gardens that will be visited, he is a marvelous resource for enjoyable and easy explorations.
Mark Gordon Smith, owner of Private Italy Tours LTD, has lead over 500 guests across Italy and Greece during the past eleven years. His expertise about traveling in Italy, his knowledge of the country, of the best means of getting around and of providing exceptional customer support are unmatched. He will with the group throughout the tour, in addition to our bi-lingual garden expert.

The itinerary is designed so that the least physical effort possible will be required to enter and explore the gardens.

The tour will begin in Florence where, for seven nights, easy day explorations will be conducted to the gardens of central/northern Tuscany. The group then relocate to a lovely Siena hotel for the latter part of the tour where additional villas and gardens will be visited. Our final evening of the tour will be back in Florence so that our guests can enjoy a wonderful group dinner and prepare for their departure.

Accommodations

Garden Tour Photos 2Our hotel in Florence was selected for ease of access for ground transportation and for walking to the city center. Located just a few minute’s walk to the Ponte Vecchio, the hotel offers a lovely terrace for morning meals and/or an evening apperativo.
The Siena hotel is located equally well for accessing the city center as well as providing easy access for our ground transportation.
Both hotels are Three-Star and offer private bathrooms en suite for each of our client’s rooms.

Included Services

  • Meet/greet in Florence
  • Garden Tour Photos 3All Accommodations throughout the tour-hotel near the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Our Siena hotel is in a convenient location for accessing the city center and sites.
  • Breakfasts every day and three group dinners included. A few lunches included as well.
  • All ground transportation in private comfortable large van throughout the tour
  • Guide services at all of the gardens
  • Entrance tickets to all gardens/villas visited during the tour Leadership of Italian garden expert throughout the tour
  • All logistics support while in Italy for specific travel arrangements or itinerary support

Itinerary

(Note: Letters within parenthesis indicate meals included with your tour – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)

Day One: Guests arrive into Florence Peretola Airport and take a taxi to the hotel located near the Ponte Vecchio in the city. After arriving at the hotel, guests are free for the remainder of the afternoon. At 2:00PM there will be an orientation walk through the city center of Florence. At 6:00PM, the group will meet for a reception meet/greet followed by dinner. (D)

Day Two: Today the garden’s explored are in the city: the Giardini Boboli and the Giardini Bardini. Lunch and Breakfast are on your own. (B)

Day Three: The gardens explored today are on the hills above and on the north side of Florence. In the village of Fiesole, we will visit the Villa le Balze and the Villa Medic. In the village of Settignano, very near Fiesole, we will visit the Villa Gamberaia. (B)

Day Four: Around Florence there are numerous incredible villas a gardens. Today we will visit the Ville Medicee di Petraia, the Villa Castello and, within the city walls of the Florence, the Giardino Corsini at the private Corsini residence. (B)

Day Five: Today we head outside of Florence to visit the gorgeous medieval city of Pienza and the nearby Villa La Foce. (B)

Day Six: Today is an open day in Florence. Arrangements can be made to get guests reserved entry tickets to the Accademia to see the David by Michelangelo (along with one of the world’s finest collections of musical instruments), the Uffizi Gallery or other places they might wish to visit. (B)

Garden Tour Photos 4

Day Seven: The group will head west of Florence this morning to visit the beautiful walled city of Lucca…one of the treasures of Tuscany. Within the city walls, our guests will have a private guided tour of the city along with visits to the Palazzo Pfanner in Lucca and the magnificent Villa Torrigiani about twenty minutes east of Lucca city center.

Day Eight: Our guests will check out of their hotel in Florence this morning and we will transfer south of the city to, first, visit the gardens of the Villa di Geggiano. Following that visit we continue on to the city of Siena where guests can drop off their luggage out our hotel A private guide will lead the group through the city including visits to the Duomo, Piccolomini Library and other incredible sites. There will be a group dinner this evening in Siena following time for relaxation after the day’s activities. (B,D)

Day Nine: We head south of Siena today to the hill town of Montalcino where guests will enjoy time to explore the village. We will transfer to the Abbey of St. Antimo to experience Gregorian Chant in a medieval Abbey. Lunch will be concurrent with a wine tasting near Siena before returning to the hotel for the evening. (B)

Day Ten: Guests will check out of the hotel this morning and we will visit the gardens of the Villa Cetinale and Castello di Celsa. During the day we will also visit Monteriggioni. a tiny walled village between Siena and Florence.Upon arrival back in Florence, guests will register at our hotel in the city. A group dinner will be held this evening to celebrate our time together in Italy. (B,D)

Day Eleven: Guests will be departing the city this morning for their return journeys to the United States or to their onward travel in Europe. For guests whose flights depart after 9:45AM, breakfast will be available. (B available)