Holiday Extras

The Medici family are synonymous with Florence and with the birth of renaissance art - the list of the architects, sculptors and painters employed by the family is astounding. Focusing on the era of the early Medici, we shall explore the monuments, churches and museums of Florence, looking at some of the masterpieces created for successive generations of the family. This visit is specifically designed to bring some of the best-loved works of the Renaissance into sharp relief.

This will be an exciting week spent exploring some of the very best camellia collections in Europe, as well as combining the best of horticultural, artistic and religious traditions as we encounter many sites associated with the famous pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

Fiery Etna has enriched its fertile slopes to create a unique botanical mix of exotic plants, amazing flowers and varied crops along the Ionian Sea-facing coast of Eastern Sicily. Based in lovely Taormina, we shall visit privately the most notable town and country gardens of the region, complemented with many owner-hosted lunches - Sicilian bliss!