Renaissance in Tuscia

TUSCIA IS A GARDEN

PRICE

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The tour can be tailored to your group’s needs.

ACCOMMODATION

• Hotel*** Salus Terme – Viterbo
• B&B Casale di Robe
• Agriturismo Il Marrugio
• Villa Lina

ITINERARY

RENAISSANCE IN TUSCIA

Arrival in Viterbo and check-in at the Hotel Salus Terme**** or at the B&B Il Casale di Robe.

Transfer to Vignanello to visit Castello Ruspoli, another gem of the Viterbo Renaissance with splendid frescoed halls and the Italian gardens that adorn it. Then transfer near Viterbo for lunch at Agriturismo Il Marrugio. Afterwards, transfer to Bagnaia to visit Villa Lante, whose lavish Italian garden is the centrepiece beside the discreet twin houses perfectly set in the greenery. The ideal heart of Vignola’s design is the monumental Fountain of the Four Moors; the many other fountains, the stage for ingenious water features, are set on the hill above. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Ronciglione to visit Villa Lina, owned for five centuries by the Leali family, who came from Brescia in the 17th century to help the Farnese manage the ironworks (they had just built the Renaissance marvel of Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola, 8 km away). The property was bought in the 1920s by Ulisse Igliori, who commissioned architect De Vico to redesign the garden in grand style; in 1929 he gave the villa to his wife Lina for her 29th birthday. Artists and scholars have stayed here for generations, including the poets Trilussa and d’Annunzio and the painter Donghi. The garden has an 1790 botanical layout with many rare trees (33 species), including Sequoia sempervirens, Magnolia grandiflora and Cedrus deodara, plus Mediterranean flora, 200-year-old strawberry trees, Roman pines and giant hollies — a deeply symbolic Italian garden that can be read on many levels.

Transfer to Caprarola and free time for lunch. Then a visit to Palazzo Farnese (1559–1575) and its wonderful park-garden. The palace, designed by Vignola, was meant to convey the power of the Farnese family; inside, admire the halls decorated by the Zuccari brothers and other celebrated masters of Roman and European Mannerism. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast and transfer to Bolsena. A guided walk through the characteristic village and an exclusive visit to the Palace of the Dragon Prince, an elegant Renaissance building below the castle, notable for its Tuscan architectural features and a cycle of Roman Mannerist frescoes pre-dating the Zuccari. Of note is the hanging garden with many potted lemon trees and a beautiful view over Lake Bolsena. A cocktail offered by the owners concludes the visit. Departure and end of services.