Garden Tours in Italy

Many people think Italy has the best gardens in the world. They are wonderfully designed but not notable for their flowers. The most popular area for garden visiting is the western coastal region extending from Florence through Rome to Naples, though Northern Italy also has good gardens (eg Isola Bella). The areas and periods of particular interest are:

• Ancient gardens near Rome and Naples Pompeii
• Medieval cloister gardens and castles - throughout Italy
• Renaissance gardens - particularly in the Florence area Villa La Pietra, Villa Medici Castello
• Mannerist and Early Baroque gardens - particularly around Rome Villa d'Este, Villa Lante, Villa Garzoni
• Botanical gardens - the old gardens in Padua and Florence; the more recent, and decorative, gardens at Orto Botanico, Ninfa, La Mortella

Garden Finder for Italian Gardens

Travel arrangements for Italian garden visiting

British and American tour operators take visitors to Italian gardens. The alternatives are car hire, which is easy, and public transport, which is cheap and extensive. There can be long hot queues at ticket windows in Italian stations but many stations have automatic ticket machines with instructions in several languages. They look intimidating but are surprisingly easy to use. Driving in country districts is relaxing and easy. Driving in and around the big cities of Italy can be a nightmare: heavy congestion, confusing road signs and hot tempered drivers. An air conditioned car helps.

Escorted Garden Tours in Italy

3
nights

Rome, Ninfa & Castel Gandolfo, departing 13th May and 2nd September 2025

This tour includes the two best-loved gardens in Italy ( Villa d’Este and Villa Lante) and a charming botanical garden outside Rome (Ninfa, pictured left - image copyright Daniele Muscetta).

 

14
nights

The Great Gardens of Italy, 14th - 28th April 2025

This 15 day tour includes many of the most spectacular gardens in Italy visiting Rome and the gardens of Tivoli, the Renaissance gardens of Florence and Tuscany, Verona as well as the extravagant gardens on Lakes Como and Maggiore. Travel in a small group and enjoy a relaxed pace as well as excellent local food and wine.

 

7
nights

Villas and Gardens of the Italian Lakes, departing 7th May, 25th June and 24th September 2025

This tour includes visits to wonderful villas and gardens in Lake Maggiore (the private garden of the President of the Italian Camellia Society, the extravagant Borromean islands, Villa Pallavicino and Villa Taranto) and Lake Como (Villa Carlotta, Villa Balbianello and a private tour of Villa Cicogna Mozzoni with the owner).