NINFA GARDENS - The romantic flower-covered gardens at Ninfa, are laid out in the ruins of the ancient Roman village of Ninfa. After a turbulent history, Ninfa was finally abandoned in the middle ages and lay deserted for hundreds of years. In 1922 Prince Caetani, a descendant of the aristocratic family who owned the original estate, began to lay out a romantic garden among the village ruins. Planting has continued ever since giving the gardens an entrancing beauty and an incredibly atmospheric mood. Roses and jasmines scramble over ruined archways, festoon the remains of medieval churches and houses and entwine tall cypresses, their scent heavy in the soft, humid microclimate of Ninfa.

In TIVOLI we visit VILLA D'ESTE, a Renaissance villa built in the 1550’s for Cardinal Ippolito d’Este, son of Lucretia Borgia. Considered the masterpiece of the Italian Garden, the gardens at Villa d’Este are renowned for their amazing fountains and water features, their function supported by the clever application of Renaissance
plumbing. The centrepiece is the gigantic Water Organ Fountain, cascading down a huge drop into quiet shady pools.  There are about 500 fountains here, as well as nymphs, grottoes and even music and it is quite remarkable how everything is integrated with the landscape. Tall pines, evergreen oaks and cedars soar skywards in a random spectacle of lush, luxuriant growth and all around there is shimmering spray and the sound of cascading water.

VILLA ADRIANA is a huge complex of buildings constructed for Emperor Hadrian, who supervised the building work of his country villa personally. Architectural features were included to remind the Emperor of his travels and the countries he visited. This was the Emperor who built the wall across Britain. The Villa (AD118-38) is not in Tivoli, but situated on the plain below the town. It is a huge complex of dwellings that would by normal standards be considered a town, with underground service passages (tantalising glimpses are still visible today), lakes, fountains, baths, temples, and gardens. Villa Adriana was once rich in architectural and sculptural decoration and although a great deal has been removed, there is much to support the significance of water, both practically and aesthetically, on Roman architecture.

The stunning gardens of LANDRIANA, 50km south of Rome, are an excellent example of a well planted ‘Arts and Crafts’ garden. Created by the great British designer Russell Page and the Marchesa Lavinia Taverna, these amazing gardens blend the exuberance of the English style with the more controlled Italian sophistication.  The Landriana gardens are on various levels and comprise 32 different ‘garden rooms’ containing many themes including topiary, flower borders, a hellebore walk and formal rose garden.

THE SISTINE CHAPEL
Michaelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. His masterpiece, undertaken between 1508 and 1512, comprises part of a larger scheme of decoration within the chapel which includes the large fresco of the ‘Last Judgement’, also by Michaelangelo, on the sanctuary wall, as well as many wall paintings and tapestries by other artists.
Michaelangelo’s ceiling decoration takes the form of nine scenes from the book of Genesis, including the iconic ‘Creation of Adam’ and over 300 figures. Our tour includes entrance to view this awe-inspiring work of creative genius, about which Vasari, 500 years ago, said,

“The whole world came running when the vault was revealed, and the sight of it was enough to reduce them to stunned silence”.

TRANSFERS/TOUR MANAGER
Transport for your tour will be in a comfortable coach. You will be accompanied by an experienced Tour Manager throughout.

Due to the many steps and levels of some of the gardens, we feel this tour may not be suitable for persons with walking difficulties.