Gardens and villas of Tuscany
Combining Chianti and the Lucca region, this 6 night tour reflects the diversity and beauty of Tuscan villas and gardens; Italianate, baroque, parkland, water features and stunning views. The tour operates with a maximum of 10 people.
This tour combines the classical heart of Tuscany with a stay near Greve in Chianti from where you visit three of the most beautiful and historic gardens in the Chianti area; Villa Poggio Torselli at San Casciano Val di Pesa, Giardino di Vignamaggio at Greve and Villa Geggiano near Siena. These villas date from the 15th Century and each of their gardens is famed in its own way for its design and beauty. Villa Poggio Torselli is renowned for its spectacular flowering plants including Indian giant hibiscus and a golden crown of 120 secular lemon trees, whereas Vignamaggio boasts an ornate Italian garden with ornamental trees, roses and cypress and Villa Geggiano, frequently used as a film set, is resplendent with ancient cypress, sculpted boxwood as well as lemon trees. From Chianti you move further west towards the coast and the town of Lucca, which offers the opportunity to visit some of the less well-known gems of this region, including Villa Grabau, Villa Oliva, the Parco della Villa Reale and the Villa Torrigiani. The Villa Grabau is renowed for its English-style parkland which abounds in rare trees, planted initially in the 16th century when the villa was built and added to over the years. Villa Oliva enjoys views over the countryside near Lucca from its position on a hillside. Its gardens descend the hill and there are numerous water falls and fountains. The Parco della Villa Reale is an extensive garden and parkland with numerous linked water features, a Moorish garden, a lemon garden, a green theatre and a camellia walk. Finally the Villa Torrigiani houses a baroque garden with nymphaeum, grottoes, water games and flowers.
Day by day itinerary
Day One: Arrive in Tuscany
You either join our flight at 10.55 from Gatwick, arriving in Pisa at 14.00 or you make your own way either to Pisa for this time or directly to the hotel. At Pisa you are met by your Iveco small coach and English speaking driver who takes you the hour and a half approximately to your hotel for the first three nights, the Villa le Barone at Panzano near Greve in Chianti. There is time to unpack and explore the hotel and its grounds as well as the country tracks nearby before dinner.
Day Two: Full day tour and visit to Villa Poggi Torselli
Your driver is joined by your guide for the whole day today as you enjoy the stunning landscape of Chianti and this part of Tuscany, with its mixture of rolling landscaped vineyards and wooded hills. You visit the Villa Poggi Torselli at San Casciano Val di Peso, renowned for its spectacular flowering plants. Packed lunch accompanies you. You return to the hotel Villa le Barone for dinner.
Day Three: Full day tour Greve to Siena
Once again you enjoy the services of a guide for the whole day for your visit to the Giardini Vignamaggio nearby in Greve. Vignamaggio was the home of the Gherardini family and Lisa Gherardini who is said to be the subject of da Vinci’s Monna Lisa. Then you head south towards Siena and the second garden of the day at Villa Geggiano, now a national monument, where you have a guided tour. A packed lunch today and then you return back to the Villa le Barone for dinner.
Day Four: Departure for Lucca
You leave Greve this morning for your second stay of the tour, at the Bagni di Pisa near Lucca, arriving in time to relax and enjoy the hotel’s spa treatments or a swim in the hotel’s pool. Dinner is taken at the hotel.
Day Five: Full day tour to Villa Grabau and Villa Oliva
A guide accompanies you again today to visit the Villa Grabau and the gardens of the Villa Oliva. These two villas and their gardens near Lucca give you a flavour of the variety of the gardens in this area with both English-style parkland with rare trees and formal water features. Time in the day to relax with your packed lunch. Dinner is taken back at the hotel Bagni di Pisa.
Day Six: Full day tour to Parco Villa Reale di Marlia and Villa Torrigiani
Your guide accompanies you to two splendid gardens in the Lucca area again today. The Parco Villa Reale is a very large garden with numerous water features, gardens within gardens and an enormous amount to explore. Villa Torrigiani is very pretty, formal and ornate. A convenient time for your packed lunch will be made and you return to the hotel for dinner and your last night.
Day Seven: Return to London from Pisa
You have some time this morning to relax before heading back by your small coach to Pisa airport and your flight to Gatwick which leaves at 14.45 arriving at 15.55.
Dates and prices:
This tour departs on the following dates from London for these prices per person
18 May 2012 £2190
9 June 2012 £2220
16 June 2012 £2140
13 July 2012 £2170
7 September 2012 £2190
21 September 2012 £2190
Prices are based on two people sharing a double or twin room and are based on 10 people taking part. If there are fewer than 10 participating, the price may be increased.
Deposit payment:
£250 per person
Supplements:
Superior double or twin room at the Villa le Barone £16 per person per night
We include:
• Flights with British Airways London Gatwick to Pisa in Euro traveller
• Transportation from Pisa airport and back to Pisa airport in a small Iveco Daily 16 seater coach for maximum 10 people with one piece of luggage per person, English speaking driver
• Entrance tickets to the gardens mentioned
• Services of an English speaking local guide as mentioned
• Three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the Villa le Barone in a classic (except on 18 May when superior rooms are included) double or twin rooms, plus two packed lunches
• Three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the Hotel Bagni di Pisa in double or twin rooms, plus two packed lunches
Villa le Barone
Panzano, Greve in Chianti
This is a traditional hotel, once an aristocratic villa and now a 4 star hotel of under 30 rooms, in its own grounds amid a typical Tuscan landscape of rolling fields and vineyards. There is a swimming pool and tennis court.
See more details on Villa le Barone
Hotel Bagni di Pisa
San Giuliano Terme, near Lucca
This is a 5 star spa hotel of about 60 rooms, situated on the edge of a small spa town. It is renowned for its spa facilities including a thermal pool and cave, yet its location near Lucca and Pisa make it an ideal base. There is an indoor and outdoor pool, spa and fitness centre.
See more details on Hotel Bagni di Pisa
Alternative travel arrangements
If you want us to arrange flights on other dates allowing you more time in Italy before and/or after the holiday, if you want to fly into and out of a different airport or fly at different times to the ones suggested, if you want the use of a hire-car for your holiday or if you want to travel out and back by train instead of flying, all this is possible. Just discuss your travel plans with us and we will adjust the details and the price accordingly.
Important information
This holiday is based on 10 people participating. Flight times are subject to alteration and are confirmed at the time of booking. We reserve the right to consolidate departure dates if there are insufficient numbers for any of the departure dates. Our booking conditions apply to this holiday. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary if we cannot be accommodated in any of the villas and gardens for any reason closer to the date of departure. Holiday insurance is not included but it is absolutely essential that you are fully insured.