Gardens of the Neapolitan Riviera

Departing: April 2027 - April 2027

Southern Italy's warm climate and fertile soil make it perfect for olives, citrus fruits, and exotic plants. This has inspired stunning villas, gardens, vineyards, and lemon groves, all steeped in the ancient culture of vibrant Naples. In the Bay of Naples, the largest island Ischia hosts La Mortella, a lush garden of exotic plants and trees started by composer William Walton. Umbrella pines, ilex, arbutus, Italian cypresses, and myrtles flourish here. On the Amalfi coast in Ravello, the Villa Rufolo features terraces with umbrella pines, cypresses, and geometric flower beds. Nearby, the clifftop Villa Cimbrone offers unmatched sea views. Lastly, Pompeii provides a fascinating yet tragic glimpse into ancient history.

Included

Explore Caserta Palace Gardens & Villa Rufolo Gardens, with entrance fees included
All other visits as outlined in the itinerary
Professional Tour Manager
6 nights at the Best Western La Solara, Sorrento
6 breakfasts & 5 dinners
Wine with dinner
Private air-conditioned coach travel

Highlights

Caserta Palace Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe
The gardens of Villa San Michele on the island of Capri
The gardens of Villa Rufolo, which commands picture perfect views over the Amalfi coast

Tony Russell

Tony is a former Head Forester at Westonbirt Arboretum and a leading authority on trees and shrubs. He has written 18 books and presented numerous TV and radio programmes, with horticultural expertise gained through a distinguished career spanning the UK and international gardens.

Tour Itinerary

Join our arrival transfer from the airport or make your own way to the hotel, where you will meet your tour manager and fellow travellers this evening.

If you join our arrival transfer, we visit the magnificent Caserta Palace Gardens en route. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's most stunning gardens. Designed by Luigi Vanvitelli in the 18th century, the gardens are an exceptional example of Baroque landscape architecture. They are divided into two sections: the Italian Garden and the English Garden, which we discover on a guided tour. The Italian Garden features formal arrangements with fountains, sculptures and flowerbeds, while the English Garden offers a more natural setting with trees, lakes and meadows. A highlight of the gardens is the fountain of Diana and Actaeon, along with the grand Cascade, showcasing three tiers of fountains cascading down the slope.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Best Western La Solara, Sorrento

After breakfast, we take a boat trip to the stunning island of Capri, which measures just 6km in length and 2km in width. On the island, we explore the gardens of Villa San Michele, situated on the site of a Roman manor on the mountainside, overlooking Monte Tiberio and the bay. The villa houses Swedish author Axel Munthe’s collection of Roman sculptures, antique furniture and prints and is now owned by the Swedish State. The park, known for its exceptional beauty and botanical significance, offers breathtaking views of the Gulf of Naples, with Vesuvius and the Sorrento peninsula gracing the horizon.

Our second visit is to Giardini di Augusto with its fantastic panoramic view of the island’s south side. The gardens belonged to the villa of Friedrich Alfred Krupp, son of the founder of the great German steelworks. Built on the ruins of the ancient Roman structures, the gardens were donated by Krupp to Capri. In a corner of the garden, a statue of Lenin was erected to commemorate his stay on the island.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Best Western La Solara, Sorrento

This morning, we transfer to the harbour in Naples and take a ferry to Ischia, the largest island in the Bay of Naples, to enjoy a visit to the gardens of La Mortella. The composer, Sir William Walton, came here with his wife Susana in 1956, who then started the garden in the sloping gully before building the house in 1962. Russell Page, the garden designer, drew up a plan for the south-sloping valley, allowing the rocky ground to dictate the seemingly naturalistic planting style but imposing his own geometry – an axial line framing the distant peak of Mount Ipomeo. On our guided tour, we are dazzled by the array of rare and tender trees, palms, shrubs, ferns and bulbs. La Mortella is not only a garden of lush exotics, but simultaneously, indigenous plants cling precariously to the steep terraced hillsides above. Umbrella pines, groves of ilex and arbutus, Italian cypresses and myrtles thrive here in glorious companionship. This afternoon, there is free time to explore before we return by boat to Naples and transfer to our hotel, where the evening is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Best Western La Solara, Sorrento

Following breakfast, our first visit of the day is to the gardens of Villa Rufolo, which command picture-perfect views over the Amalfi coast. This is one of the oldest surviving palaces in Italy, dating from the 13th century. Wagner visited the villa in 1880 and was inspired to write part of his opera Parsifal here. On the upper terrace, umbrella pines and cypresses shade a wellhead, while on a lower level, classical geometric beds edged with box are filled with modern flowers. Tender plants which thrive in the mild climate are a feature of the lower terrace.

In the afternoon, we discover the gardens of Villa Cimbrone, a 19th-century Moorish/English hybrid by William Beckett, Lord Grimthorpe, who owned the property until 1900. The garden was designed on a clifftop promontory with magnificent views of the Amalfi coast jutting out 106 metres above the Mediterranean. Trees, flowers and plants grow in profusion. A wisteria-clad pergola stretches almost the full length of the central axis, while on either side there are imaginative themed gardens including a stretch of lawn decorated with statues, a sunken teahouse garden, a rose garden and a shady grove of umbrella pines and cypresses which descends the steep slopes to the valleys below.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Best Western La Solara, Sorrento

Today is free to relax at the hotel or enjoy time exploring the local area at your own pace.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Best Western La Solara, Sorrento

We are joined by a local expert guide for the day to explore the archaeological wonders of Pompeii, which was, of course, the town tragically drowned in lava following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The town was buried under 23 feet of ash, which solidified with rain and time, preserving everything as if it were in a time capsule. Hidden for centuries, excavation work revealed an elegant resort with complete streets, beautiful villas and sculptures. Now, almost four-fifths of the original city has been unearthed and many of the treasures are housed in the National Museum in Naples.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Best Western La Solara, Sorrento

After breakfast you will be transferred back to the Naples Airport where your tour ends.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation

The hotel features spacious, comfortable guestrooms, many with a balcony or terrace overlooking the gardens, pool or sea. Guests can relax beside the large outdoor swimming pool, enjoy traditional Mediterranean and Campanian cuisine in the restaurant, or unwind with a drink on the terrace. Additional facilities include a fitness room and free Wi-Fi.