GARDENS, LANDSCAPES, AND VILLAS IN THE HEART OF ITALY

1. Day 1 

   Arrival of participants at Rome Fiumicino Airport. Departure by private coach towards Marche Region. Accommodation to the Hotel Villa Picena****.

   Welcome drink and presentation of the itinerary. Dinner at the Hotel. Overnight stay.

2. Day2

   Breakfast at the hotel.

   Guided tour of Ascoli Piceno: Cathedral, Baptistery, Picture Gallery, Historic Theatre, its main square and the Giardini del Vescovo. Ascoli piceno is the place where history, art and food passion live together and tell how beautiful italy can be.

   Time for lunch at the historical Caffè Meletti. Free time to visit the antique market.

   Transfer to Villa Cicchi, a holiday residence from the late 1600s. Visit of the villa and the historical garden.

   In the evening the owner Ms Maria Elena Cicchi, a passionate connoisseur of local traditional food and wines will do a show cooking followed by the dinner. The demonstration will be focused on the famous “olive ascolane” recipe.

   Back to the hotel for overnight stay.

3. Day 3

   Breakfast at the hotel.

   Transfer and visit of Villa Sgariglia, a classic example of an 18th-century marche villa which boasts an extraordinary esoteric garden built in the same period. Tea/coffee break at the end of the visit.

   Transfer for a guided visit of Grottammare and lunch based on typical street food of the area.

   In the afternoon transfer to Offida and guided visit of this charming hilltop town, famous for its historical architecture and for the handicraft of bobbin lacemaking. Successively transfer and visit of Borgo Storico Seghetti Panichi. With its 18th- century farmhouse and villa, and 19th-century gardens, Borgo Storico Seghetti Panichi is a living history of Le Marche spanning 300 years.

   Dinner in the exclusive setting of the Villa. Back to the hotel for overnight stay.

4. Day 4

   Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with driver and guide and departure with luggage.

   Arrival in Castiglione in Teverina. Food and wine pairing lunch at Fattoria Madonna delle Macchie, a beautiful estate located in Tuscia area that boasts winery and olive mill.

   Transfer and guided visit of Civita di Bagnoregio, a wonderful hamlet perched on a plateau of volcanic rock surrounded by steep ravines. Perched on the top of a steep, crumbling rock formation in the Calanchi Valley, is located between Rome and Orvieto. Departure to Bolsena. Check in and accommodation at Hotel Royal****.

   Transfer by walk from the hotel to Palace Vesconte, an historic 16th century house owned by Counts Cozza Caposavi and located in the square in the historic center of Bolsena.

   Afterwards, back to the hotel for overnight stay.

5. Day 5

   Breakfast at the hotel.

   Meeting with guide and transfer by walking to the harbour.

   Departure by private boat to Bisentina Island, set in the natural amphitheatre of Lake Bolsena, which the English writer John Evelyn called “a most incomparable prospect.”

   Back to Bolsena by boat.

   Transfer by bus to the Estate Mazziotti. Wine tasting and lunch. Back to Bolsena, guided visit of the village.

   Transfer to Palazzo del Principe del Drago, qn elegant Renaissance building owned by the Principe del Drago. Interesting for its architectural peculiarities and for a cycle of frescoes dating back the renaissance period.

   Guided visit followed by a private dinner inside this historic house. Overnight stay at the hotel.

6. Day 6

   Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with driver and guide and departure with luggage to Bagnaia. Guided visit of Villa Lante, famous for its beautiful mannerist gardens and incredible fountains, statues and water features.

   Transfer to Vignanello for a guided visit of Castello Ruspoli, a fortress that preserves the history of the Ruspoli family over time.

   Tasting of the typical handmade pasta called “fieno” accompanied by the local red wine at the historical dwelling Palazzo Pretorio.

   Transfer to Viterbo and check in at Hotel Salus Terme****.

   Transfer to the historic centre for a short guided visit and free time for shopping. Dinner in the exclusive private Villa Ascenzi with live music.

   Back to the hotel.

7. Day 7

   Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with driver and guide and departure for Bomarzo.

   Guided visit of the famous Parco dei Mostri, also known as the Sacred Wood: it’s an impressive Renaissance park featuring extraordinary stone sculptures depicting fantastic creatures related to ancient myths and legends.

   Transfer to Ronciglione, close to the charming little Lake of Vico.

   Guided visit and lunch at Villa Lina which boasts 40 hectares of organic estate, a mediterranean paradise. It is owned and curated by writer and filmmaker Paola Igliori.

   At the end of the meal, back to the Hotel Salus. Free time at the SPA.

   Dinner at the restaurant of the hotel and overnight stay.

8. Day 8 
   Departure with luggage for Rome Fiumicino Airport.

Accommodation for 7 nights with breakfast included 1 dinner at the Hotel Villa Picena

1 dinner at the Hotel Salus Terme

1 dinner at Borgo Seghetti Panichi (historic private house) 1 dinner at Villa Cicchi with show cooking

1 dinner at the Palazzo Cozza Caposavi (historic private house) 1 dinner at Villa Ascenzi (private house) with live music

1 dinner at the Palazzo del Principe del Drago (historic private house)

Lunch at Caffè Meletti

Lunch based on typical street food in Grottammare Lunch based on typical hand-made pasta in Vignanello Lunch at Villa Lina (private villa and estate)

Wine tasting and light lunch at Fattoria Madonna delle Macchie (private vineyard estate) Wine tasting and light lunch at Estate Mazziotti (private vineyard estate)

Private boat and guided visit to to Isola Bisentina (private island) Entrance fees and guided visits as described

English speaking guide all the tour long

1 access to the thermal SPA of the Hotel Salus Assistance service by Il Giardino Segreto T.O.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

Return flights  

City tax at the hotels Tips and personal extras

1. Hotel Villa Picena Colli del Tronto
2. Hotel Salus Terme – Viterbo
3. Hotel Royal – Bolsena

ASCOLI PICENO 

ASCOLI PICENO IS THE PLACE WHERE HISTORY, ART AND FOOD PASSION LIVE TOGETHER AND TELL HOW BEAUTIFUL ITALY CAN BE.

ASCOLI PICENO PRESERVES THE INCOMPARABLE CHARME OF THE OLD TOWNS OF CENTRAL ITALY WHERE TIME SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED. OLD BUILDINGS IN TRAVERTINE, ELEGANT SQUARES, HISTORIC CHURCHES RICH IN TREASURES AND SUGGESTIVE TOWERS UNDERLINE ITS STYLE.

VILLA CICCHI

A RESIDENCE SURROUNDED BY PICENO HILLS, WHERE LOVE FOR TRADITION AND THE TERRITORY COMBINES WITH ATTENTION TO DETAIL. THE ART OF HOSPITALITY HERE IS A MUST THAT GIVES LIFE TO A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

VILLA CICCHI IS AN AUTHENTIC FARMHOUSE WITH ITS 40 HECTARES OF LAND WORKED CULTIVAD ORGANICALLY: OLIVE GROVES, A VINEYARD, FRUIT TREES AND A VEGETABLE GARDEN, ARABLE LAND, WOODS, AND AN ANIMAL FARM. THIS SCENARIO GUARANTEE EXCELLENT PRODUCTS THAT ARE USED IN COOKING AND CAN BE PURCHASED BY GUESTS

VILLA SGARIGLIA

A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF AN 18TH-CENTURY MARCHE VILLA WHICH BOASTS AN EXTRAORDINARY ESOTERIC GARDEN BUILT IN THE SAME PERIOD. THE ENTIRE COMPLEX WAS DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT GIOSFATTI, WHO ADDED AN ITALIAN GARDEN WITH TERRACES AND CITRUS ARBORS BUILT IN THE 1700S.

OFFIDA

OFFIDA, AN ANCIENT VILLAGE ENCLOSED BY 15TH-CENTURY CASTLE WALLS, IS AMONG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN ITALY. PERCHED ON A ROCKY SPUR BETWEEN THE VALLEYS OF TESINO AND TRONTO, IT IS KNOWN FOR THE LABORIOUS AND PATIENT ART OF BOBBIN LACE, AN ANCIENT TRADITION TO WHICH IS DEDICATED A MUSEUM AND A MONUMENT BUILT IN THE OLD TOWN. BOBBIN LACE MAKING IS STILL WIDESPREAD: WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE SUGGESTIVE STREETS OF THE HISTORIC CENTRE, YOU SEEE WOMEN INTENT ON LACE-MAKING.