Gardens Illustrated: The Italian Rose in Lazio & Umbria

Depart London Heathrow with British Airways at 10:35, arriving at Rome Fiumicino airport at 14:15. We then drive to one of Rome’s most tranquil quarters, to the Donna Camilla Hotel. From here, we will take a 20-minute stroll to the extraordinary Roseto Communale di Roma, established in 1931. With 1,100 species of rose, the magnificent view ranges from Palentine Hill to the bell tower of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. We then return to our hotel for a welcome drink and time to relax, before dining together at a local restaurant with wine included.

The morning begins with a visit to Ninfa, a supremely romantic garden, where roses scramble over the ruins of a medieval town set on the banks of a river. After lunch at Ninfa’s own Prodotini Pontini, we continue south to La Landriana, with its series of beautifully planted Arts and Crafts garden rooms designed by Russell Page and the Marchesa Lavinia Taverna. We return to the Donna Camilla Hotel for a free evening in Rome.

Leaving Rome, we head into the hills to visit a relatively new collection of roses, both ancient and modern, occupying a dramatic hillside site. Emanuele Dotti, who has assembled this ever-expanding collection, has named the garden in memory of his dear friend, Giovanni Chilanti.

We continue towards Perugia, stopping for a buffet lunch in the delightful garden of Helga Brichet, a world expert on roses. Helga even lectures in China about Chinese roses and is past president of the World Federation of Rose Societies. Helga’s garden, Santa Maria della Porta, holds a unique collection of Chinese and hybrid gigantea roses.

We then travel to Perugia and the Brufani Palace Hotel, ideally placed in the heart of old Perugia, with wonderful views over rooftops to the countryside beyond. An evening meal has been included at the hotel with local wines included.

This morning, we travel to Spello to visit Tenuta San Giuseppe. The old silk mill has been transformed into a home and offices for the production of the Barbanera Almanac, produced by the same family for over 250 years and still used by farmers and gardeners throughout Italy. Surrounding the buildings are the potager, orchard garden, and the four-season terrace with roses, designed by Peter Curzon. After refreshments on the terrace, we will be shown the private museum featuring the Barbanera collection of historic almanacs from all over the world. We return to Perugia for a walking tour of the medieval city and dine together at a local restaurant.

Returning to Rome, we stop in Tivoli to visit the magnificent gardens of Villa d’Este, one of the most harmonious and evocative examples of Baroque scenography in Italy.

After lunch at Villa d’Este, we return to Rome Fiumicino airport to check in for our return flight.