Day 1 to day 6

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Pisa On arrival transfer by coach to Lucca (approx. 45 minutes) and the Albergo Celide Hotel for check-in. Day 2: Gardens around Lucca We spend today visiting villas and gardens around Lucca, a charming city renowned for its well-preserved Renaissance city walls and historic architecture. First stop is Villa Oliva Buonvisa, on the northern hills of Lucca and surrounded by a large park featuring numerous tree species. Then head back to central Lucca and Giardino di Palazzo Pfanner, an Italian-style baroque garden which was designed at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The steps of the palazzo look towards the elegant north-facing lemon-house and the two historical bamboo groves which frame the garden with a rich variety of ornamental plants, palm-trees and secular pines. After lunch (own expense) we drive to nearby Villa Torrigiani di Camigliano, which was built in the 16th century, and is considered one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Tuscany. The house still contains its original furniture and frescoes by Pietro Scorzini, and the gardens are decorated with large pools, and a a variety of plants and flowers from all over the world. Tonight enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. Day 3: Villa della Petraia and Villa La Pietra Originally designed by the Brunelleschi family in the 14th century, Villa della Petraia because part of the Medici family's estate in the 16th century who transformed it's garden into three magnificent terraces featuring dwarf fruits, flower beds and citrus trees. We visit the museum interior with its rich history and stunning architecture, then explore the gardens with panoramic views of Florence. After lunch (own expense) we coach to the outskirts of Florence to Villa La Pietra, which has been maintained by New York University since receiving the villa in 1994 in a bequest by owner Sir Harold Acton. Renowned for its Renaissance revival style, La Pietra garden mirrors the preferences of the Anglo-American community that resided in Florence around the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and along with the Villa is officially listed as cultural heritage by the Italian Ministry of Fine Arts. Day 4: Morning free then Villa Garzoni Free morning to relax and enjoy Lucca. Located in the ancient hamlet of Collido, the garden of grand 17th century Villa Garzoni started as a small tiered area near the palace, used as a vegetable plot. The garden was designed by Lucca architect Ottaviano Diodati, and features an open-air theatre, cascading water features, and a majestic staircase which is flanked by female statues representing Lucca and Florence. We tour the garden with David this afternoon. Day 5: Bardini, Boboli, and Giardino delle Rose Guided walking tour of Florence today to visit Florence's most beautiful and historic gardens, starting with a visit to Bardini Gardens which features a Baroque staircase and an English garden. We then take a short walk to Boboli Gardens located behind the Pitti Palace. These gardens are a primate example of Italian Renaissance garden design and feature a vast variety of sculptures, fountains and grottos. Free time for lunch (at own expense) after which we visit Giardino delle Rose located in the Oltrarno district, with its 400 varieties of roses. Day 6: Transfer to Pisa airport for return flight to Heathrow NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions, weather, garden openings and tour manager's discretion. Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 30 passengers. Tour grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to time spent at attractions, and standing time for viewing. Some sites visited may not have lifts, and stairs may be uneven and steep. Gardens may have gravel uneven paths, with step access and no handrail. There may be limited places to sit in gardens visited. For more information, visit the mobility page of our website, or contact our team.