Genoa and Gardens of the Italian Riviera

The glorious gardens established in the 19C by wealthy visitors to the Italian Riviera scarcely need an introduction - suffice to say that in May, their colours and fragrances make them a delight to visit.

Less obviously, but inexplicably so, the Romanesque churches, splendid palazzi and rich art collections of Genoa make this great seaport, rival and equal of Venice for centuries, a thoroughly rewarding destination for Italophiles who have yet to discover the charms of Liguria.

TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1

D included

After meeting in the early afternoon at Genoa airport, we drive a short distance to visit our first garden at the Villa Faraggiana, one of the few examples of a baroque garden in Liguria and famous for its magnolias. We stay for the next four nights in an elegant 4 star hotel, with a swimming pool and spa, set in a small private park by the sea. A glass of dry Vermentino, a typical Ligurian wine, introduces dinner on the terrace overlooking the water.

DAY 2

B, L, D included

The coastal autostrada whisks us west, close to the French border, for a visit to the celebrated Hanbury gardens. Begun in 1867 by Sir Thomas Hanbury and his botanist brother Daniel, the gardens are dramatically sited on a promontory sloping gently down to the sea and contain many rare plants. We drive up into the Ligurian hills to explore the mediaeval village of Dolceacqua, and visit the private gardens of the Villa Piacenza Boccanegra. Originally dedicated to the cultivation of roses, the garden was later planted with exotic species by the English heiress Ellen Willmott.

DAY 3

B, L, D included

We explore Diano Castello, first fortified in the 10C as defence against Saracen raids. High on the ridge above we enjoy splendid views towards the Alps and admire the centuries-old olive groves on a short walk. Back at the coast we visit the Olive Oil Museum before a light tasting lunch - Pigato wine and Ligurian dishes: Taggiasca olives, pasta with pesto (pesto is the archetypal Genovese sauce) and shrimps with garlic and pine nuts. We visit the gardens of the Villa Grock, their charming eccentricity reflecting the character of their original owner, the world famous clown, Grock. En route back to our hotel we walk round the historic centre of Albenga, with a fine 10-sided 5C Baptistery and a Museum of Roman Ships.

DAY 4

B, L, D included

In Bordighera we have a private visit to the gardens where Monet painted a number of pictures in 1884 and see the extraordinary atelier of Italy’s most famous Impressionist painter, Pompeo Mariani. We admire an amazing collection of cacti and succulents in a renowned private botanical garden before proceeding to San Remo to visit the onion-domed Russian church built by Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna in 1874. We walk along the palm tree-lined promenade to visit the Villa Nobel, a museum about the Nobel Prize Foundation.

DAY 5

B, L, D included

After breakfast we visit an unusual garden established in the 1840s by Michele Canzio, then stage designer for Genova’s Teatro Carlo Felice - the garden is full of illusion and surprises, including follies inspired by Egypt, Turkey, China and ancient Rome. Reaching Genoa, we first visit the early 15C gardens of the Palazzo del Principe, established by Admiral Doria. A reconstructed Genovese argos takes us across the harbour to lunch, then we walk via the superb Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral of San Lorenzo (consecrated in 1118) and the Doge’s apartments in the Palazzo Ducale to our 4 star hotel in the historic centre.

DAY 6

B, L, D included

We stroll along the Via Garibaldi, lined with 16C patrician palaces and see the collections of the Palazzo Bianco, with paintings by Van Dyck, Rubens, Filippino Lippi, Veronese and Caravaggio. After coffee in an historic café we visit the Palazzo Tursi to see the Guarneri violin which belonged to Genoa-born Paganini and 3 letters written by Chistopher Columbus, Genoa’s most famous son. In the afternoon we visit the dock area, renovated by the architect Renzo Piano, to visit the new Museum of the Sea.

DAY 7

B, L, D included

We see the pictures and elegant furnishings of the Palazzo Reale, then visit the late 16C garden of the Villa Pallavicino with its grottoes, fountains and statuary. After lunch we explore the architectural monuments of the Piazza San Matteo, created in the 12C, with characteristic striped black and white facades. We see the church of San Matteo, founded in 1125 and decorated with frescoes and stuccoes in the 16C, then return to our hotel before a performance in the Teatro Carlo Felice (or other venue, as available) and our farewell dinner in one of the city's most innovative restaurants.

DAY 8

B included

A free morning to pursue individual interests - perhaps visiting the unusual Museum of Antarctic Exploration or the excellent Museum of Oriental Art - before an airport transfer concludes the holiday.

Price includes:

All accommodation for Days 1 through 8 on a double shared basis

All meals with wine at lunches and dinners, other than those excepted in the daily notation

An informal wine tasting as described

All land transportation in a private vehicle as described except during free periods

A boat trip in Genoa as described

All entrance and sightseeing fees except during free periods

A ticket for a concert (or opera) in Genoa

Gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff

Visa and Health Requirements

Visitors from the EU and the US currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Italy. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of Italy.

At present there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Italy. Residents of countries in the EU can only claim free (emergency) medical treatment in Italy by presenting their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which is issued in the UK by the Department of Health. You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the FCO.

Insurance

It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for information on a policy available to UK residents.

If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.