Arrive into Granada and make your way to your hotel…Check in time is 2 pm

Sercotel Palacio de los Gamboa

Plaza de Gamboa, s/n esquina, C. Escudo del Carmen, 18009 Granada, Spain

Located in an old two-story palace that distributes its 68 rooms around two beautiful patios. Around us, the Cathedral, the Albaicín or the Monastery of San Jerónimo. Sercotel Palacio de los Gamboa features a charming Andalusian courtyard with a fountain and colorful glass roof. Your Classic Rooms are air-conditioned and feature elegant, classic-style décor. Each room has satellite TV and a mini-bar. The spacious bathrooms include a hairdryer and toiletries. Free wifi.

https://www.sercotelhoteles.com/es/hotel-sercotel-palacio-de-los-gamboa

We meet later on this evening to enjoy a Welcome Dinner.

Please Note that you might want to arrive a pre tour night so you are rested and ready to go for the tour…if you do want a pre tour night, please request this on the registration form asap to secure it.

One of the most beautiful gems of architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens started as far back as the 13th Century by the Nasrites. The Alhambra became a Christian court in 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand and Isabel) conquered the city of Granada. The summer palace is called Generalife. The Generalife is the most charming corner of the Alhambra, thanks to its gardens, ponds and fast-flowing water. In fact, the name of the main courtyard is the Patio de la Acequia – Courtyard of the Water Channel – in reference to the water which coursed through the villa before supplying the Alhambra below. It stands at the foot of Spain’s highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada. The Alhambra (Arabic root meaning ‘red’ or ‘crimson’) and Generalife both became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.

Did you know? The word “Generalife” has been translated as “garden of paradise“, “orchard” or “garden of feasts“.

https://www.alhambra.org/en/alhambra-information.html

Then back to our hotel for the rest of the day and evening on your own.

Breakfast included, Lunch and Dinner on own

Pack up this evening, check safe and power adaptors you may have used.

Cordoba’s hour of greatest glory was when it became the capital of the Moorish kingdom of El-Andalus, and this was when work began on the Great Mosque, or “Mezquita” in 785, which – after several centuries of additions and enlargements – became one of the largest in all of Islam. When the city was reconquered by the Christians in 1236, the new rulers of the city were so awed by its beauty that they left it standing, building their cathedral in the midst of its rows of arches and columns, and creating the extraordinary church-mosque we see today. The Mezquita de Cordoba is most notable for its giant arches and its forest of over 856 (of an original 1,293) columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite. These were taken from the Roman temple which had previously occupied the site and other destroyed Roman buildings. The Mezquita also features richly gilded prayer niches. But the Mezquita’s most interesting feature is certainly the mihrab, a domed shrine of Byzantine mosaics built by Al Hakam II (961-76). It once housed the Koran and relics of Muhammad. In front of the Mihrab is the Maksoureh, a kind of anteroom for the caliph and his court; its mosaics and plasterwork make it a masterpiece of Islamic art.https://mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es/en/

As well as the unique mosque-cathedral, Cordoba’s treasures include the Alcazar, or Royal House, built by the Christians in 1328. The Alcazar served as one of the primary residences of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. From 1490 to 1821 the Inquisition operated from here. Today the castle’s gardens are among the most beautiful in Andalucía and also take time to enjoy the Roman mosaics…they are truly special. In a hall which housed the former chapel of the Inquisitions there are exhibited a magnificent collection of Roman mosaic art from the 2nd and 3rd century AD. The collection was discovered under Corredera Square in the city in 1959 and once belonged to a wealthy Roman Mansion. Outside the main castle walls the gardens occupy 55.000 square metres. It is certainly a very relaxing place to wander. There is a wide variety of plants, palm trees, cypresses, orange and lemon, trees to be seen which overlook stone fountains and large ponds. Originally the water was brought in by an aqueduct from the Sierra Morena and the great Albolafia waterwheel in the River Guadalquivir nearby helped with the supply. The large ponds were added in the 19th century.https://alcazardelosreyescristianos.cordoba.es/?id=3

Then we enjoy Lunch with a wine tasting.

…and a floral feast for the eyes, the Palacio de los Viana.

We enjoy guided visits of the Alcazar and Mezquita and a quiet joyful time to wander on our own through the many gardens of Viana. This 17th-century palace is one of Córdoba’s most splendid aristocratic homes. Also known as the Museo de los Patios, it contains 12 interior patios, each one different; the patios and gardens are planted with cypresses, orange trees, and myrtles and more. I was so delighted to see this that I bought a book on the patio gardens here…well worth it! https://www.palaciodeviana.com/

Hotel NH Amistad – Superior Room – 1 Night

History surrounds you the second you step inside the NH Collection Amistad Córdoba hotel. Made up of two 18th century palaces, its traditional courtyards are filled with flowers and shaded by orange trees, archways and woodwork have been restored to their 18th-century glory, with a few carefully-chosen modern touches. Plus it’s right in the historic heart of Córdoba, 5 minutes’ walk from the city’s shops. Our quiet, contemporary-style rooms all come with views of our pretty courtyards, Maimonides Square or the historic wall which once separated the Jewish and Christian sections of Cordoba. Our stylish courtyard café offers up delicious local dishes while our 2 open-air patios are a wonderful place to unwind with a drink. https://www.nh-collection.com/hotel/nh-collection-amistad-cordoba

Breakfast and Lunch with wine tasting included, Dinner on own Pack up this evening, check safe and power adaptors you may have used.

Sit back, enjoy the spectacular Mediterranean views from our coach as we make our way out of Barcelona to the Botanical Gardens of Marimurtra.

Located in Blanes, in Costa Brava, the Marimurtra Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens on the Mediterranean. At the top of steep cliffs running along the sea, you can enjoy one of the most spectacular panoramic views over the coastline and get to know more than four thousand plant species, most of them exotic ones, as well as several specimens that are extraordinary because of their age or size. Marimurtra is the work of a man with a passion for nature. Carl Faust was a businessman residing in Catalonia who devoted his hopes, his efforts and all his fortune to make his dream come true, the Botanical Garden Marimurtra.

https://marimurtra.cat/en/

Tossa de Mar – Some leisure stroll time in this glorious seaside resort before our Lunch.

Before becoming a tourist resort, Tossa de Mar was a small fishing village, and before this, was involved in various other industries such as cork, food preservation, charcoal burning, wine making and olive oil production. At one time, Tossa even had a fleet of boats which traded with other Mediterranean ports and America. Another important part of Tossa’s history was the filming of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman in the 1950s, with Ava Gardner and James Mason in starring roles. At one of the most spectacularly astounding viewpoints of the Vila Vella, there is a magnificent bronze statue of the renowned American actress, Ava Gardner. A tranquil stroll around the old town reveals a multitude of intricately interwoven alley ways laden with plants, each leading to it’s own spectacular pine framed view of the bay of Tossa, lapped by the sparkling topaz blue Mediterranean, sunlight drizzling through the branches. It is one of the most enchanting villages you will ever walk around in…

We finish off this exquisitely relaxed day with a guided visit to Santa Clotilde Gardens in Lloret de Mar.

This wonderful garden was landscaped in a setting of great beauty on top of a cliff with breath taking views over the sea. It is a fine specimen of the spirit that animated the Noucentista movement in Calalonia – an early 20th century movement for intellectual and aesthetic renewal that found a distinguished spokesman in the writer Eugeni d’Ors. The Santa Clotilde gardens were designed in the manner of the dainty yet austere gardens of the Italian Renaissance by Nicolau Rubió i Tuduri at the age of twenty-eight, when he was still brimming over with admiration for his master in the art of landscape gardening, JCN Forestier. In these gardens, Rubió ignored Forestier’s teachings with their Spanish-Arabic slant mixed up with images of the French garden, as he had seen when working with Forestier, and instead sought to recover the spirit of the Italian Renaissance as the essence of modernity. A new bourgeoisie was then emerging, looking back nostalgically on the prestige enjoyed by patrons of the arts during the Renaissance. The garden greets us with a blend of features from the Villa Medici, the Villa Borghese and perhaps the Boboli gardens as well – Florence was where one went for inspiration at the time. The spirit of romanticism underlies the garden, expressed in the marble bust glimpsed amid the vines, looking out to sea with its back to us – another delightful parody of that romantic sentiment of union with nature, closer to Leopardi than to his master C.D. Friedrich. These gardens, work on which began before the house, feature a collection of marble statues in the neo-classical style and the mermaids by the sculptress Maria Llimona. All the paths, avenues, squares and steps are set off by clipped hedges that form splendid green architectural shapes.

https://barcelonanavigator.com/santa-clotilde-gardens/

Then we make our way back to our hotel…renewed in spirit and basking in the memories. Evening at your leisure.

Breakfast and Lunch included with Dinner on own.

Barcelona is very easy to walk around and enjoy and our hotel is very close to great shopping venues as well. Make your own memories today as you stroll, remember to look up as you walk too or you will miss some great architectural features. Cafes seem to be on every street corner and as I walked along the streets I had the distinct feeling I was at home…Barcelona can do that to you.

Breakfast included, Lunch and Dinner on own.

Today, our last day together, I want to share two very special places we will visit…both so special and so utterly unique.

Casa Milà, popularly known as ‘La Pedrera’, is probably one of the most famous buildings of the Catalan Modernisme or Catalan Art Nouveau period and one of the architect Antoni Gaudí’s most ambitious works. It is a structure that is a work of art in itself. Gaudí planned Casa Milà (1906–1912) at the age of fifty-three, when he was at the height of his powers and had found a style of his own – independent of any established ones. It turned out to be his last civil work and one of the most innovative in its functional, constructive and ornamental aspects. Indeed, thanks to his artistic and technical ideas, it has always been considered a breakthrough work, outside the concepts of the time, a rara avis in Modernisme itself and, especially, a work that anticipated the architecture of the 20th century.

https://www.lapedrera.com/en/home

and ever wonder what it is like to live there?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/29/world/europe/barcelona-gaudi-la-pedrera-casa-mila.html

and

https://thisisglamorous.com/2022/08/design-history-decor-inspiration-the-last-resident-of-casa-mila-ana-viladomiu-barcelona-designed-by-antoni-gaudi.html/

and lastly

https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/history/barcelona-casa-mila-la-pedrera-gaudi-guide.html

And Finally…

The Palau de la Música Catalana is one of the most representative monuments of Art Nouveau architecture. An emblematic building of the Catalan Modernism, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Built between 1905 and 1908 by the great architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner, the Palau de la Música Catalana is an architectural jewel of Barcelona. Our guided tours starts in the Rehearsal Hall of the Orfeó Catala, where the foundation stone of the building was laid in 1905 and where even today, as it has for more than 100 years, the choir of the Orfeó Català rehearses regularly. Sitting in this intimate space, you can find out the reason for its importance with an audiovisual tour. The tour continues along the grand staircase decorated with flowers, Catalan flags and a single rail: built in a clever combination of a range of materials including iron and glass to create a world of detail which never ceases to amaze. Next we’ll visit the Lluís Millet Hall, where you can glimpse the large balcony with columns symbolizing flowers of every kind, in a tribute to nature. Finally we’ll go into the Concert Hall where an explosion of colour, shapes and light will welcome you to this great masterpiece of decorative art which amazes and inspires visitors and artists day after day. You will also go up to the second floor, next to the great skylight a drop of water and honey, a source of both light and inspiration. And finally the organ of the Palau, overlooking the room, will accompany you on a little musical journey. What an ending to a magical tour!

https://www.palaumusica.cat/en/the-art-nouveau-building_23602

We will all then enjoy our final Farewell Lunch together – a time to say goodbye to old and new friends, toast a wonderful tour and make our way back to our hotel.

Breakfast and Farewell Lunch Included with Dinner on your own

Or you may have chosen to stay on. If you want to use the same hotel do let me know so I can confirm post tour nights for you.

Arrive into Taipei and meet your driver who will escort you to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day at leisure until the tour begins tomorrow.

Your hotel in Taipei is the Cozzi Hotel. Comfort Room

Full of elegant and luxurious touches. Enormous premium King Size beds and linens, extra-thick privacy curtains – including triple laminated windows – will ensure you sleep soundly and peacefully.  Smart TV, walk in shower, TOTO Washlet, hairdryer, safe, complimentary wifi and other goodies.   The hotel also has a roof bar for food and drink.

**If you wish the Comfort Suite I can let you know the cost to upgrade.  For those sharing a twin bedded room this will offer you more space.

https://hotelcozzi.com/en/zhongxiao-taipei/

***Please Note that Check in is normally from 3 pm on. If you are arriving on a very early flight you might want to consider booking a pre tour night.

Rest, get settled and we will all meet tomorrow for the start of our tour.

After a buffet breakfast in The Lounge Featuring famous southern Taiwan dishes alongside Western and Asian staples…we meet our guide and are off for our first day!

The Taipei Botanical Garden was first built as a nursery (Taipei Nursery) in 1896 during the Japanese colonial period. It was later expanded and renamed Taipei Botanical Garden in 1921 and became the first botanical garden in Taiwan. The Garden occupies 8.2 hectares which contains the gardens of Gymnosperms, Ferns, Taxonomic Garden, Ethno-plants, Aquatic plants, Lotus pond, Taiwan Indigenous Plant Display Area and other theme exhibition sites with a collection of more than 2,000 plant species. It has become one of the most important institutes for research and educational resources for plants in Taiwan. Taipei Botanical Garden also happens to be an unearthed cultural relic of the old Taipei Lake. Around 4,500 years ago, the lake became habitable land, and human activities started to take place in the area. The abundant cultural remnants left behind makes the botanical garden an important archeological site in Taiwan. It is a quiet peaceful garden in the middle of Taipei, ideal for a stroll while looking at the many different plants. Many places to sit with lots of shade. Signs and information boards around the park are both in English and Chinese characters. A Japanese house and garden that had been recreated had many of the design features found in traditional Japanese houses and a lovely little raked stone garden at the back. In addition, there are two historic monuments in the garden – the Herbarium and Museum of Imperial Envoy Lodging (formerly known as the Guest House of Imperial Envoys). The Herbarium was built in 1924 and was the first herbarium in Taiwan. The worldwide plant specimens collection dated back from the last century along with abundant living plants makes the garden a precious place in Taiwan. The Guest House of Imperial Envoys was built in 1888 at the location of the Taipei Zhongshan Hall. It was relocated to the current site in 1933 and renamed Bu-Cheng-Shih-Sz Museum.

https://tpbg.tfri.gov.tw/en/Introduction.php

One of Taipei’s largest outdoor flower markets, stretching a full city block between Ren’Ai and Xinyi Roads, the Jianguo Holiday Flower market sells anything and everything related to flowers and gardening. The market is especially well known as a place where merchants and growers can directly exhibit their goods to consumers, offering a massive variety of goods at over 200 stalls. Located in a repurposed parking garage, the market is shielded from adverse weather while still keeping an open-air atmosphere for patrons to enjoy.

Lungshan Temple tops every list of best temples in Taipei, and for good reason. Dating to 1738, it is one of the oldest temples in the city and probably the most well-known in all of Taiwan.   It’s also a great place to familiarise yourself with Chinese folk belief, which is a polytheistic religion that honours a collection of different gods, deities, spirits and ghosts, each with their own ‘field of expertise’. This centuries-old structure is impressive not just because of its appearance but also due to the fact that it has survived bombings, earthquakes, typhoons and fires. During WWII, it was bombed to pieces by Allied forces and subsequently rebuilt and maintained by the local community. The decoration throughout is both intricate and beautiful, and it’s a wonderfully peaceful haven. . The doors, beams, and poles are beautifully decorated. There is a pair of bronze dragon poles in the front hall, four pairs of dragon poles in the middle hall. The sculptures are delicate. There are also exquisite wood sculptures. Among them, the well and Buddha setting in the main hall are highly appreciated. The temple has many Chinese poems, verses and lyrics on signs. These add a touch of literature in addition to the religious and sightseeing value.   (lungshan.org.tw)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall was built to celebrate the long-serving first president of Taiwan, Chiang Kai-Shek. Construction on the hall started in 1976, a year after President Chiang passed away. Designed by C.C. Yang, Master of Chinese Classical Architecture, this historic landmark was opened in 1980. Originally intended as a memorial, it has become so much more in the decades since. The octagon-shaped white building rises 76 meters and is covered with blue tiles and red accents, echoing the flag of the Republic of China. The eight sides represent the Chinese cultural symbolism of the number eight which is traditionally associated with fortune and wealth. The two sets of 89 steps represent Chiang’s age of death and lead up to main hall housing a large bronze statue of Chiang protected by military personnel which change hourly. Besides the main hall, the large complex includes the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park, National Concert Hall and the National Theater. https://www.cksmh.gov.tw/en/

Towering above the city like the gigantic bamboo stalk it was designed to resemble, Taipei 101 is impossible to miss. At 508m, Taipei 101 held the title of ‘world’s tallest building’ for a number of years. Until 2011 it held the title of the world’s tallest green building. The pressure-controlled lift up is quite a rush; at 1010m per minute it takes a mere 40 seconds to get from ground level to the 89th-floor observation deck. Observation decks are on the 88th and 89th floors (382 m) with an outdoor deck on the 91st floor opened on some occasions, weather permitting. Don’t miss the massive gold-coloured iron wind damper that keeps the tower stable through typhoons and earthquakes. There is even a small secret garden there…For those into Starbucks, the highest Starbucks in Taiwan is in this building on the 35th floor.

https://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/observatory

Our lunch today will be very special as it is at Din Tai Fung at Taipel 101, known for their specialty – Taiwanese soup dumplings.  One of the most iconic symbols of eating at Din Tai Fung anywhere you are in the world is the small army of dumpling makers who look like medical researchers in white, hand making these tiny bites of deliciousness.  I can hardly wait to eat them again! https://www.dintaifung.com.tw/eng/

The Tao Zhu Yin Yuan Tower, also known as Agora Garden, is indeed a remarkable example of sustainable architecture located in the Xinyi District of Taipei, Taiwan. Designed by Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut, the tower is a residential high-rise that stands at 93.2 meters tall with 21 floors above ground and four basement levels. The design of the building is inspired by the structure of DNA, resembling a double helix that rotates 90 degrees from top to bottom. Each floor is slightly rotated by 4.5 degrees from the one below it, creating a unique twisting shape. This not only provides a distinctive aesthetic but also allows for cascading gardens and panoramic views of the Taipei skyline for the residents. The tower is covered with approximately 20,000 trees and shrubs, which contribute to reducing Taipei’s carbon footprint by absorbing around 130 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. It has been awarded a LEED Gold energy label and a Diamond level by the Low Carbon Building Alliance for its environmental efforts. As Asian cities battle air pollution, eco-friendly solutions are on the rise……and just in case you didn’t know Vincent Callebaut is also one of the architects who has also submitted a new roof design for Notre Dame….he is definitely passionate and forward thinking.   Photo Stop only.

https://www.dezeen.com/2019/05/09/notre-dame-roof-vincent-callebaut-energy-food-farm/

https://www.tao-zhu.com.tw/index-en.html

Cutting through Datong District is one of Taipei’s historic and gorgeous neighborhoods. Dihua Street offers visitors a glimpse of mid-19^th century Taipei as well as the city’s thriving artistic side. Running between Nanjing West Road and Minquan West Road, the street is known as being the heart of Dadaocheng, the oldest still-surviving neighborhood in Taipei, and also for its traditional medicinal tea, sundries, fabric and tailor shops. But there is still more to explore along Dihua Street with its historic architecture, art galleries and contemporary craft shops. Pay special attention to the buildings and you can even spot some great examples of Qing dynasty and Japanese colonial architecture, which are pretty uncommon.  Traditional Fujian-style Qing Dynasty homes can be seen alongside Baroque revival and modernist styles favored by wealthy Japanese at the time of the Japanese colonial occupation. What truly makes Dihua street special is that many of these 100+ year-old businesses are still in operation, while cute modern cafés, craft shops and clothing boutiques make practical use of gorgeously restored ancient edifices. The area’s unique museums, intriguing temples, and traditional eats are the finishing touches on this quintessential Taipei experience.

https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002090&id=418

In Blooom – A quick stop to a shop that is run by women, all into the environment, teaching others to not use disposable items, to consciously reduce the amount of garbage produced by oneself and to cherish energy, save water and electricity.  The designs they create in fabrics and other products inspire environmental thinking. A super hip fabric art shop.  “The store was founded by three women, and of course there was tons of discussion about what we should do with the space. The three O’s are meant to represent three mouths talking.”

https://www.inblooom.com/ and https://www.inblooom.com/brand/https://taiwan-scene.com/2018/02/22/taiwan-culture-blooms-at-inblooom-taipeis-hippest-fabric-art-shop/

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Tea is both life and culture…

Learn about the development of Taiwanese tea at Pinglin Tea Museum located in the Thousand Island Lake area.. The picking of the “spring tea” starts around the end of March. The Pinglin Tea Museum, established in 1986, is located on the bank of Beishi Creek in Pinglin District, covering an area of​​nearly 3 hectares. It is a courtyard building in the Anxi style of southern Fujian. It combines the beauty of the graceful and deep Jiangnan gardens with contemporary architecture. The museum contains an exhibition hall, experience hall, tea art classroom and other spaces.

https://www.tea.ntpc.gov.tw/

The entire street of “Pinglin Old Street” is about 200m long, with “Bao Ping Temple” at the center, which is the key belief for the locals. There are papier-mache stores, tofu snack stands and and tea houses along the street, including the famous “Pinglin Pouchong Tea” in Taiwan. Stores on the old street are combined with Pinglin local tea culture, such that they used Pouchong Tea to make various creative snack foods, including tea rice cakes, steamed tea buns, tea nougats and tea oil vermicelli, etc. Moreover, Pinglin’s tofu is also famous, which is made with local mountain spring water, offering the sweet and delicious tofu dishes. When coming to Pinglin Old Street, one must come to taste the tea dishes and tofu. the most special part is that the old street is filled with strong tea aroma, attracting many barn swallows to stop for a smell, and swallow nests can be seen in almost all of the surrounding residences, even exceeding the local population, thereby becoming the genuine “Barn Swallow City”.

We will then visit Jiufen Old Village in Pingxi…where you will enjoy a glimpse of Taiwan in the olden days. Tourists are attracted by the retro buildings and unique landscape of sloping fields in this mountain city. It is full of memories to photograph and also full of delicious snacks that the locals love and shops to wander including some delightful old teahouses with iconic red lanterns. Also here is a special shop that sells filtered coffee and apparently it is very very good. Another thing to try are the taro balls, It is a very different area compared to modern Taipei. Founded during the Qing Dynasty, this small town was a relatively isolated village until the discovery of gold during the Japanese occupation in 1893, quickly developing the town due to the gold rush. Many buildings in the town remain unchanged to this day, reflecting the Japanese influence on both architecture and culture on the island. With an unmatched old town atmosphere and seaside flair, Jiufen is a must see spot when visiting northern Taiwan. No matter which way you choose to enjoy it, you’ll be sure to come away from Jiufen with some of the most memorable photos of your trip to Taiwan.

Breakfast and Lunch Included with dinner on own

Want something to do this evening?  One of Taipei’s oldest temples dedicated to the goddess of the seas. Impressive in size and covered in opulent decoration – complete with an elaborate roof covered in immortals and dragons – be sure to explore all six levels to truly appreciate the Ciyou temple’s beauty! Perfectly paired with an evening trip to the Rahoe Street night markets, which begins right outside the front entrance. Come nightfall watch as 600 meters of delicious Taiwanese snacks, drinks, and full-blown restaurants materialize, and it seems almost everyone in Taipei – local or otherwise – come out to savor the smells and flavors!

The former residence of Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling, the Shilin Official Residence is a designated historical site open to the public as a museum celebrating their accomplishments as well as their contributions to the growth of Taiwan in the modern era. Besides the main residence, other buildings within the compound include the guesthouse, Victory Chapel, Ciyun Pavilion, and numerous gardens. The garden is full of wisteria, cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums and roses favored by the couple. Flowers bloom according to season and make for a stunning view throughout much of the year. Victory Chapel was completed in 1949, and was used as the place of worship (they were both devout Christians). Besides the President and first lady, General Chang Hsueh-liang, General Ho Ying-chin (and their wives), as well as United States Presidents Eisenhower and (then VP) Nixon attended services at this chapel. On display is Soong Mei-ling’s large clothing and accessory collection (she was very highly regarded politically, American-educated, and well known for her strengths in soft diplomacy, and also comparable in fashion sense to American first lady Jackie O), including various western-influenced pieces and also Chinese-influenced pieces such as qipao and access to her painting room (Madame Chiang’s Studio) where President Chiang often composed poetry to accompany her paintings.

Take a Stroll at Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence – Taipei Travel Geek

One of the oldest and few traditional houses preserved in Northern Taiwan. A brilliant example of early architecture, in particular famous for its delicate carvings. Now serving as a museum, take a stroll through its rooms and many courtyards, enjoy the view across the lake from the pagodas and allow yourself to be transported back in time. In the 19th Year of Qianlong Period in Qing Dynasty (in 1754), Lin Chin-Ming (also known as Lin, Yao-Kung), a native from Anxi County of Fujian Province, had led his families to sail across the strait to Taiwan…..https://english.linantai.taipei/

The garden landscape of Lin An Tai Ancient House Folk Cultural Relics Museum is composed of architecture, water features, artificial mountains, flowers and trees, which reflects the nature and life views of ancient Chinese in many aspects, shrinking nature, rocks, water and springs, and the wild scenery of Baodao Island. It is the best space for people to enjoy the garden, which can experience the joy of life of those who lived long ago.

Lin An Tai Historical House & Museum-Architecture-An Introduction to the Courtyard

Yangming Park is one of the first stops that visitors often make while exploring Yangmingshan. The park contains a Chinese-style garden with elegant buildings, pavilions kiosks, streams, fountains and ponds for visitors to relax and enjoy the cooler climate. Some unique flora within and around the park include cherry blossoms, azaleas, camellias, peach blossoms, thorn apples, and plum blossoms, changing with the seasons. From December through April, the landscape is adorned with native cherry, plum, camellia, peach, and azaleas, and this time period is known as the flower festival. The Flower Clock is a large garden artwork nearby the western entrance to the park. A symbol of Yangmingshan National Park, the Xinhai-Guangfu Building is cozily nestled in thick woods. This sumptuously decorated, two-story Chinoiserie structure was completed in 1971 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution. Located at the geological center of Yangmingshan National Park, this building offers a spectacular view of the Taipei Basin in the distance. A pond in front of the building, observable from the second-floor veranda, is a children’s favorite as they are allowed to feed the varicolored carp in it. Adding quaint and solemnly elegant appeal to Gaungfu Building are exquisite carvings, paintings and numerous other typical Chinese architectural details that subtly make references to literature classics. When the flowers are in full bloom, the building becomes an island in a sea of cherry blossom petals. So just indulge yourself in this phenomenon by lingering around the circuitous corridors while appreciating the interplay between blossoms and the elusive mountain mist.

https://guidetotaipei.com/visit/yangmingshan-national-park-%E9%99%BD%E6%98%8E%E5%B1%B1-yang-ming-shan-mountain

https://guidetotaipei.com/visit/yangming-park-flower-clock-%E9%99%BD%E6%98%8E%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92-%E8%8A%B1%E9%90%98

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

This extraordinary collection of historic art treasures, fascinating for its depth and breadth – perhaps the world’s most comprehensive synthesis of 8,000 years of Chinese history – has miraculously escaped destruction over hundreds of years. The National Palace Museum (NPM) houses a magnificent collection of precious Chinese artifacts and serves the role of protecting human and art histories. Were it not for Chiang Kai-Shek – who shipped these artefacts in crates to Taiwan – hundreds of thousands of porcelain vases, jade carvings and irreplaceable artworks would have been lost. The NPM’s artifact collection comprises items inherited from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing courts. When the construction of the Museum in Waishuanxi, Taipei, was completed in August 1965, President Chiang Kai-shek inscribed the name of the museum as “Chung-shan Po-wu-yuan” on a tablet above the door in honor of the nation’s founding father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The Museum was officially inaugurated on November 12 of that year. The construction of the Zhishan Garden, which lies to the left of the Museum, began in 1984. A fine example of traditional Chinese landscaping, the garden’s picturesque pavilions and terraces, small bridges, ponds and winding paths offer a relaxing atmosphere. The beams and pillars of the pavilions are carved with couplets in elegant calligraphy that uplift the spirit. The land on the right side of the Museum grounds was turned into the Zhide Garden with winding bridges over ponds and small pavilions. https://www.npm.gov.tw/

Taipei Collectible Botanical Garden’s exhibition areas include Taiwan native plant area with the most local features, tropical/subtropical plant area with tropical island style, orchids and fern display area with hundreds of flowers blossoming, succulent area with exotic shapes, temperate plant area with visual and olfactory enjoyments, and alpine plant area where the plants represents perseverance in Chinese culture. Furthermore, in the temperate plant area, there is an exhibition of begonia varieties provided by Professor Peng Jingyi of Academia Sinica. With almost 500 species of plants displayed, the exhibition offers one of the most dazzling experiences, showing an incredible diversity of plants.
https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/2010

Known as the largest rose showcase in Taiwan, the Taipei Rose Festival is currently being held in Xinsheng Park until the end of the month. There are over 800 varieties of roses in full bloom in the garden’s five display zones. One of the rarely seen species being showcased is Princess Midori, a species from Japan known for its striking green hue.  We expect the same timing for the tour.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5110134

Breakfast and Lunch Included with dinner on own

LAST night at hotel, please make sure to check safe and wall outlets for your adaptors and anything charging overnight.

Taipei– Tainan  – HSR to the oldest city in Taiwan

Natural and man made wonders join forces in Anping Treehouse, which is located in an old trading hub. When the warehouse closed in the 1940’s, a huge Banyan tree literally swallowed it, making it look like a place you only see in fairy tales. You can explore the site on foot, and you will surely be astounded by how the tree managed to grow. There’s also a skywalk, which will give you a bird’s-eye view of the treehouse. It’s the perfect opportunity to take photos. Behind it is an ecological pond.  https://www.twtainan.net/en/attractions/detail/4486

When anyone in Taiwan mentions Tainan, the image of the famous fort at Anping always comes to mind. Anping Old Fort is one of the most historical forts in Taiwan – the fort was built by the Dutch from 1624 to 1634 and was originally named Fort Zeelandia, but was later renamed as Anping Old Fort in 1662. It may not be the defensive bastion that it once was, but this building is a symbol of Taiwan’s storied past, having been one of the most important stops on the local trade routes. Nowadays Anping Old Fort functions as a museum where travelers can learn a little more about Taiwan’s history. Around the fort is Anping Old Street, a historical street where handmade products and food are sold.

https://www.twtainan.net/en/attractions/detail/4493

Did you know?  Tainan is famous for the unusual but aptly named coffin bread. It’s been on the menu since around the 1940s and is more or less exactly how you imagine… Hollowed out husks of bread are filled with a variety of fillings ranging from soup to seafood and everything in between.

Chihkanlou was built in 1653 by the Dutch, and served as their administration center until 1662. Fort Provintia (meaning eternity) was the original name, but after the Dutch colonial period, it was changed to Chihkan to honor the aboriginal village that originally stood there. Outside, you will see statues depicting the surrender of the Dutch to Koxinga, a commander of the Ming Dynasty. Inside, there are relics dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The tower’s brilliant mix of Dutch and Chinese architectural styles is enough to make your visit memorable. In front of Chikanlou there are nine sets of stone turtles carrying plates. Legend has it….
https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002119&id=471

Did you know? Danzai noodle’s greatest honor as the treasure of Tainan has been it’s inclusion at state banquets and international flight meals. Many different noodle shops serve Danzai noodles, but each has its own secret recipe, the broth, the rich yet refreshing minced pork, and even the cooking methods might be different. Du Hsiao Yueh, now a century old brand, has expanded way beyond its original stall. In addition to visiting the original location in Tainan, be sure to look for Du Hsiao Yueh’s Danzai noodle when wandering through Taipei’s historic Dihua Street!

After lunch we will do a little walk around to visit Japanese-era Hayashi Department Store (1932) – with the only remaining old style dial type floor indicator and Shinto Shrine (1933) on the roof, Tainan Park, Shennong Street – considered one of the most preserved historical streets in Tainan. Today, it holds many boutiques, cafes, art, and other food and beverage establishments.

Hotel : The Place Hotel , Tainan (4*) – Treat Room or similar for 1 night

Located off An Ping Chenghuan Temple, the property is set near Chihkan Tower, a fortress, a tower and a museum are just a short stroll away. Your Double or twin sharing room includes hairdryer, t.v, and other goodies.  There is a coffee shop and gift shop in lobby. Free wifi. Located in downtown Tainan, the east district, The Place Tainan shares the same complex with the T.S. Mall, a new must-go of Tainan

https://www.hotelroyal.com.tw/en-us/tainan

…please make sure to check safe and wall outlets for your adaptors and anything charging overnight

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Tainan – Kaohsiung – “street art capital of Taiwan”

The famous Fo Guang Shan Buddha Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is quite the complex and likely you have never seen anything like it before. This is a perfect site for travelers to learn and experience Buddhist culture while enjoying beautiful landscapes and architecture. Built in 1967, Fo Guang Shan is the biggest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan and was founded by Hsing Yun, a Chinese Buddhist monk. Fo Guang Shan covers an area of more than 30 hectares. Apart from the monastery, there is also the Buddha Memorial Center and eight pagodas. The most famous icon of the Buddha Memorial Center is the gigantic Buddha Statue with the height of around 108 meters (354.3 feet).   https://www.fgs.org.tw/en/Organizations/OneDayLife
https://www.fgsbmc.org.tw/en/index.aspx

Inside the MRT station on Formosa Boulevard in Kaohsiung is a breathtaking ceiling made of stained glass that makes the daily commute feel like a trip to Paris’s prized chapels. Designed by an Italian artist, its 4500 panels are divided into four colours which symbolise the co-existence of the world’s first elements: water, earth, fire and light. Called the ‘Dome of Light’ created by Narcissus Quagliata. It is 30 metres in diameter and covers an area of 2,180 square metres and is the largest illuminated art-glass dome in the world, taking four years to complete. The lead glass panes were created and assembled according to a full-scale blueprint created by Quagliata in Germany to produce a creative new departure from this millennia old art form. Quagliata is perhaps the artist most responsible for the use of fused glass as an art form in large installations. Born in Rome in 1942, Quagliata has been working with glass for over 40 years. His work has been shown in New York’s Metropolitan Museum and the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery among others.. We will make a photo stop here so you can photograph the beauty of this masterpiece….meet the creator here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0HWdZBTbQU

Established in 1951, Lotus Pond is well known for its many lotus plants and temples, including the Spring and Autumn Pavilions, Dragon and Tiger Pagodas and the Confucian Temple. The dragon’s throat is the entrance and the tiger’s mouth is the exit. Entering a dragon’s throat and coming out a tiger’s mouth symbolizes turning bad luck to good fortune. Inside, paintings depict China’s 24 most obedient sons as well as scenes of heaven and hell to inspire people to do good deeds during their lifetime, and to provide threatening examples of retribution for wrongdoing.

Visiting The Dragon Tiger Pagodas (龍虎塔) – Shaozhi On The Net

We will stop at the Former British Consulate at Shiziwan Bay for sunset view…

Sitting 70 meters (229 feet) above the Kaohsiung Port and Sizihwan and facing two spectacular views is the historical building of the British Consulate at Takao. This building was built on the peak of Shaochuantou and towers above the view of Sizihwan and the Kaohsiung Port. The British Consulate was built after the Treaty of Peking which took place in 1860 and enforced the local government to open ports for foreign trade at several cities including Takao, the city now known as Kaohsiung. In 1867, this building was granted to Britain as their consulate. However, in 1909, the Japanese government took over all foreign consulates in Taiwan and converted this particular building into an ocean observatory in 1931. Since then, the building has experienced a few major destructions, including a bombing in World War II and a typhoon in 1977. It is now the most antique western building preserved in Taiwan. It was designed by a British engineer and built by Chinese craftsmen, and it is the most meaningful ancient building of Chinese modern history with graceful and elegant proportion.
Equally Gorgeous Sunset at the Former British Consulate, Kaohsiung (wordpress.com)

Hotel : Howard Plaza Hotel , Kaohsiung (4*) – Deluxe Room or similar for 1 night

Free wifi, hair dryer, tv.

Howard Hotel (howard-hotels.com.tw)

…please make sure to check safe and wall outlets for your adaptors and anything charging overnight

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Kaohsiung – TaipeiThis morning we head back to Taipei on their High Speed Rail. This is a fantastic way to travel as you will discover. It will take us just 90 minutes to make this journey at speeds of up to 300 kph and a very comfortable and very clean ride PLUS you get to enjoy Bento. …  I had it on another trip and it was so good….

Our last stop on the tour is to ChiaTe Bakery to pick up pineapple cakes to take home…this is the premier pineapple cake bakery and where the locals buy…the buttery pastry wraps around the tropical, sweet filing, making a melt-in-the mouth delight. They were traditionally eaten for ceremonies like weddings and engagement parties because ‘pineapple’ in Taiwanese Hokkien sounds similar to the phrase ‘to come forth, prosperous and thriving’ (i.e. we hope you’ll have lots of children). But when Taiwan’s huge pineapple production shifted to more domestic consumption, bakeries wanted to get in on the trend and started making pineapple cakes in their masses. The ChiaTe Bakery makes some of the best pineapple cakes around and it’s got an interesting history as well….The owner, Chen Tang-peng, (yes, another woman who was passionate enough to start her own business) grew up watching local boys bringing cakes and bread back to her village after work. Although she was part of a fishing family, she was enticed by the sweet-smelling fragrance of freshly-baked goods and started an apprenticeship as a baker. She moved to Taipei when she was 18 and opened ChiaTe Bakery when she was only 26. Word spread quickly about the delicious ChiaTe pineapple pastry and the small business became one of the most successful bakeries in Taipei. This reputation only improved when she won first place in a prestigious pineapple cake competition. The ratio of pastry to filling is simply perfect. The tropical pineapple adds a nice tanginess, a tart flavour that lasts long afterwards and leaves you wanting more. If you’re actually not a big fan of pineapple then you can try similar cakes in strawberry, melon or even prune flavour to get a hint of what everyone’s talking about. The nougat biscuits are great! ….p.s. if you want more, you can also pick these up at the airport…

Did you know? These tasty little snacks, also known as feng li sun, are extremely popular in Taiwan and famous all over the world. They are square with a shortbread exterior and a sweet pineapple jam-like filling. They are not only delicious but also symbolise good luck and prosperity.

Then our last visit together will be our Farewell Afternoon Tea at the Grand Hotel!

Taipei Grand Hotel (also designed by C.C. Yang), a 14-story palace-like building established by Madam Chiang, Soong Mei-ling. It is one of the worlds tallest Chinese classical buildings at 285 feet high and was built to accommodate foreign guests. Since 1952, the Grand Hotel has been standing midway up Yuanshan, a towering building with red columns, gilded tiles and a magnificent, grandiose, regal, classic presence, a must-visit great gem of Chinese culture.  This is where we will enjoy British Style AfternoonTea and say our goodbyes to each other… a wonderful way to end our time together!  It took 21 years to complete and has hosted many famous people over the years.

Did you know? Despite all the varieties available, all true teas are brewed from cured leaves of the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Tea originated in Southwestern China, becoming a popular recreational drink during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-904), then spread to other parts of Asia. Tea didn’t become big in England until the British began cultivating it in India in the 17th century. The two main varieties of tea are Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (Chinese tea) and Camellia sinensis var. assamica (Indian tea).

Cozzi Hotel, Taipei.- Comfort Room

Breakfast and Afternoon Tea Included with dinner on own

Taipei

To do as you like…  Free as a bird and still so much left to see so after a good breakfast…get out there and enjoy your time, do some shopping and make some more wonderful memories….

Cozzi Hotel

Breakfast Included with Lunch and Dinner on own

Your Hotel… Holiday Inn London – Kensington High Street, Wrights Lane, London in Premium Rooms

After arrival into London please make your way to your hotel. Check in 3 pm and if you arrive earlier they will hold your luggage. Once in your room, unpack that bag and put it away…you won’t need to see it again for 8 nights.

Located steps from Kensington’s popular and stylish High Street, minutes from the nearest tube station and walking distance to London attractions such as Kensington Palace & Gardens, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum & Science Museum. The Boulevard Restaurant serves hot full English & Continental buffet breakfast every day, and delicious contemporary European dishes for lunch or dinner.  Also Lounge Bar and Open Lobby Café.

https://www.hilondonkensington.com/

The simplest and most economical way to get to the Holiday Inn Hotel is to take the underground from the London Heathrow Airport at whatever terminal – Piccadilly Line to Earls Court then change to District Line getting off at the High Street Kensington Station where you will find not only Boots but Marks & Spencer with a great food hall. Hotel is a short walk through the back of the station. Note: Stairs at the various stations. If more than one person you may want to share a cab but it is expensive.

After breakfast we will leave by coach for our visit to this delightfully plant packed garden. You are free to wander the gardens on your own.  There is so much to see here including the new Welcome Building.  You can see it here… https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/garden-highlights/welcome-building

Wisley was founded by Victorian businessman and RHS member George Ferguson Wilson, who purchased a 60-acre site in 1878. He established the “Oakwood Experimental Garden” on part of the site, where he attempted to “make difficult plants grow successfully”. Wilson died in 1902 and Oakwood was purchased by Sir Thomas Hanbury, the creator of the celebrated garden La Mortola on the Italian Riviera which I have had the pleasure of visiting. He gave both sites to the RHS the following year. Wisley is now a large and diverse garden covering 240 acres. In addition to numerous formal and informal decorative gardens, several glasshouses and an extensive arboretum, it includes small scale “model gardens” which are intended to show visitors what they can achieve in their own gardens, and a trials field where new cultivars are assessed.

We should be there at the perfect time for the Rhododendrons and Azaleas and you will have time to enjoy the gardens on your own and have lunch on your own at their fabulous café with views to the gardens. Be sure to check out the new exotic garden…I love it. The garden will showcase a diverse range of plants, from palms and bananas to vibrant flowers such as dahlias, cannas and gazanias. Providing an alluring contrast from the nearby Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden and Cottage Garden, the oasis will feature more than 100 species originating from tropical areas as far as Brazil and South Africa in an array of bold shapes and textures. A gorgeous place to wander and just be…

Return back to hotel.

Breakfast included, lunch on own and Our Welcome Dinner – 3 courses with glass of wine

‘In a house, each room can be quite different to the next, both in appearance and purpose. Each section of a garden can also vary in its appearance and purpose. This is how some of the best landscape designers think of gardens.

Rooms or sections of a garden can be separated by hedges, dense shrubberies, trellis or walls of stone, timber or any other material. The floor of a garden may be covered with gravel, lawn, paving, creepers, low shrubs or even water. The roof is most often the sky; but it could also be the interlocking canopy of large trees or the framework of some other structure such as an arched walk or pergola.

One of the best examples of the outdoor room concept is Hidcote Manor, near Stratford upon Avon in England. Even if you only have a small garden, you can find inspiration in some of Hidcote’s smaller outdoor rooms.

There are 28 distinct garden areas at Hidcote. The series of smaller hedged gardens close to the house are particularly inspiring. Soon after entering Hidcote, most people find themselves at the circle garden. From this point, paths lead in two main directions; one through the Red Borders to the stilt garden, and the other down a series of terraces to the bathing pool garden.’ Café and Garden Center.

https://www.acsgarden.com/articles/garden-travel/hidcote-a-garden-with-many-rooms.aspx

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote

Three Generations of Women Gardeners …

Perched on the edge of the Cotswold Hills, Kiftsgate Court is a family home and garden that has been loved and cultivated by the same family for over 100 years. Three generations of women gardeners have left their mark, each building on the legacy of the previous owner. When Jack and Heather Muir bought the Grecian-fronted Victorian house in 1919, Heather, without any horticultural training, started to layout the Kiftsgate garden straight away. Instead of a lawn, she planted semi-formal beds of roses and other flowers, a Tapestry Hedge with a mix of beech, yew and plain and variegated holly, and a Rose Border full of unusual varieties. Heather’s horticultural aesthetic favored the Arts & Crafts Movement which emphasized perennials and plants chosen for their adaptability, including drought tolerant cistus, spiky agaves and other Mediterranean style plantings. She was encouraged by her friend and next-door neighbor at Hidcote, Lawrence Johnston, and other notable garden designers including Norah Lindsay and Vita Sackville-West—who planted the enormous and famous Kiftsgate Rose (Rosa filipes) at Sissinghurst.

Heather’s daughter, Diany Binny continued the family gardening tradition during the 1950s and quickly became an accomplished plants woman. She extended the planting, creating paths and replanting more borders with shrubs and herbaceous plants and re-fashioned the White Sunk Garden with a pool and fountain. Since the late 1980s, her daughter Anne Chambers and her husband Johnny have brought the garden into the 21st century. They introduced plants that flower year-round and are suited to warmer winters. They also created a new Water Garden with a sculpture by Simon Allison, a woodland with plants from the Scilly Isles, an avenue of tulip trees, and an orchard among other features.    http://www.kiftsgate.co.uk/

Return to our hotel

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on own.

We will arrive at the gates just prior to them opening and once in with show guide in hand, be transported to another world.  It is truly amazing that you are looking at gardens that have just been put together for this show –  you will know what to do first as you will know the tips and secrets of enjoying it… Tips on enjoying this show will be sent prior to the tour.

The show closes at 8 pm but if you wish to leave before that, I will have some ideas for you as well.  You can make your own way back to the hotel at your leisure.  This way you are free to enjoy the show for as long as you like.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on your own.

Great Dixter was built in 1910–12 by architect Edwin Lutyens, who combined an existing mid-15th century house on the site with a similar structure brought from Benenden, Kent, together with his own additions. It is a Grade I listed building. (In simple terms, if a building is Grade 1 listed it is deemed to be of exceptional interest and may also have been judged to be of significant national importance. Grade 1 listing is usually reserved for much older and historically-important buildings) The garden, widely known for its continuous tradition of sophisticated plantsmanship, is Grade I listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Great Dixter was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd – it was the focus of his energy and enthusiasm and fuelled over 40 years of books and articles. Now under the stewardship of Fergus Garrett and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust, Great Dixter is an historic house, a garden, a center of education, and a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from across the world. As you enter the grounds you are struck at the sight of the house, so perfect in every quirky way and the planting is perfectly suited to the timbered façade. As you walk through the various gardens you are in fact walking around the house as well.  Perfectly placed plants surrounding home, barns and oast houses. There is a café and shop here.

Great Dixter   https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/

Every gardener I think has heard of Vita Sackville-West and now you are in for another exceptional garden as we visit the home of Vita and her husband Harold Nicolson. They lived at Sissinghurst until 1962, the year she passed away and then in 1967 Harold gave Sissinghurst to the National Trust. She was a prolific writer, poet and most of all gardener. Their history as a couple is really quite amazing and many books have been written on it. The tower is where she wrote novels, plays, poetry and gardening books and is still left as though she was just out for a moment checking something in the garden. They had the most extraordinary life and relationships and both wrote many books…it is worth digging deeper. There is a café and shop here.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/9346537/Vita-Sackville-West-her-gardening-legacy.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/11166590/the-many-sides-of-vita-sackville-west.html

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-16-bk-6473-story.html

Return back to hotel with your evening at leisure.

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on your own.

In my tour notes to you,  I include lots of ideas on what to do with your day of leisure.  I would suggest that tonight would be the night to book shows or theatre as the tour days are not advised. We just do not know about traffic and I would hate for you to miss an event that you had planned to go to.

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on own.

25May, Sunday Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

After a hearty breakfast, we are off to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Kew Gardens is a world heritage site and a place of global significance. Kew contains the most diverse collection of living plants of any botanic garden in the world. The collection contains plants from tropical, temperate, arid and alpine climates, and are grown out in the Gardens and in controlled conditions within glasshouses and nurseries. A must visit is the Palm House and the Lily House right next to it…and the Marianne North Gallery for the most remarkable collection of botanical paintings you will ever see…833 paintings from her travels around the world.  The Shirley Sherwood Gallery – the world’s first public gallery dedicated to classic and contemporary botanical art. There are cafes to have lunch or a cup of tea. I will give you plenty of time here because there is just so much to see and places to rest and enjoy being in this extraordinary garden…plus a huge giftshop!

Map of garden – takes a while to download

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/visit-kew-gardens/map

https://www.kew.org/

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-in-the-gardens/shirley-sherwood-gallery-of-botanical-art

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-in-the-gardens/marianne-north-gallery

Return back to hotel with your evening at leisure.

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on your own.

Now you have seen some extraordinary gardens on this tour and it only seems fitting that the last garden we visit should be West Green House Gardens…it is also extraordinary!! In a beautiful corner of North Hampshire, visit a garden of contrast and inspiration, created by acclaimed garden designer Marylyn Abbott. It is a garden with a special and distinctive sense of place created over two decades by Marylyn Abbott a renowned Australian garden designer whose twin passions for English Gardens and International Opera have created a unique environment. West Green House Gardens combines neo-classical style with contemporary design. A grand water staircase provides a focal point to the Nymphaeum Fountain designed by architect Quinlan Terry. The magnificent Walled Garden, faithfully restored to its original lines, is entered through an arbor of wisteria. An alley of apple trees divides an elaborate potager with its berry-filled fruit cages, annual flowers and colourful vegetables from its signature perennial borders exuberantly planted in subtle hues of mauve, plum and blue. There is a lot more to discover here. There is a lovely gift shop here as well.

To finish off our tour we will also enjoy a wonderful Afternoon Tea in the original Orangery, built in the 1770’s. This is a delightful and enchanting setting, filled to the rafters with plants and garden accessories. The perfect spot to chat and say Farewell….I cannot say enough about this garden, it is truly the perfect ending to an incredible variety of gardens that we have been privileged to visit.. To sit here among the flowers and enjoy Afternoon Tea is just well…magical.

Map of the Garden http://westgreenhouse.co.uk/garden/

Website http://westgreenhouse.co.uk/

Return back to hotel with your evening at leisure or to drag that suitcase out reluctantly and begin to pack…

If your flight is early you can arrange with the hotel to have a grab-and-go bag ready for you.

Arrive into Granada and make your way to your hotel…Check in time is 2 pm

Sercotel Palacio de los Gamboa

Plaza de Gamboa, s/n esquina, C. Escudo del Carmen, 18009 Granada, Spain

Located in an old two-story palace that distributes its 68 rooms around two beautiful patios. Around us, the Cathedral, the Albaicín or the Monastery of San Jerónimo. Sercotel Palacio de los Gamboa features a charming Andalusian courtyard with a fountain and colorful glass roof. Your Classic Rooms are air-conditioned and feature elegant, classic-style décor. Each room has satellite TV and a mini-bar. The spacious bathrooms include a hairdryer and toiletries. Free wifi.

https://www.sercotelhoteles.com/es/hotel-sercotel-palacio-de-los-gamboa

We meet later on this evening to enjoy a Welcome Dinner.

Please Note that you might want to arrive a pre tour night so you are rested and ready to go for the tour…if you do want a pre tour night, please request this on the registration form asap to secure it.

One of the most beautiful gems of architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens started as far back as the 13th Century by the Nasrites. The Alhambra became a Christian court in 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand and Isabel) conquered the city of Granada. The summer palace is called Generalife. The Generalife is the most charming corner of the Alhambra, thanks to its gardens, ponds and fast-flowing water. In fact, the name of the main courtyard is the Patio de la Acequia – Courtyard of the Water Channel – in reference to the water which coursed through the villa before supplying the Alhambra below. It stands at the foot of Spain’s highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada. The Alhambra (Arabic root meaning ‘red’ or ‘crimson’) and Generalife both became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.

Did you know? The word “Generalife” has been translated as “garden of paradise“, “orchard” or “garden of feasts“.

https://www.alhambra.org/en/alhambra-information.html

Then back to our hotel for the rest of the day and evening on your own.

Breakfast included, Lunch and Dinner on own

Pack up this evening, check safe and power adaptors you may have used.

Cordoba’s hour of greatest glory was when it became the capital of the Moorish kingdom of El-Andalus, and this was when work began on the Great Mosque, or “Mezquita” in 785, which – after several centuries of additions and enlargements – became one of the largest in all of Islam. When the city was reconquered by the Christians in 1236, the new rulers of the city were so awed by its beauty that they left it standing, building their cathedral in the midst of its rows of arches and columns, and creating the extraordinary church-mosque we see today. The Mezquita de Cordoba is most notable for its giant arches and its forest of over 856 (of an original 1,293) columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite. These were taken from the Roman temple which had previously occupied the site and other destroyed Roman buildings. The Mezquita also features richly gilded prayer niches. But the Mezquita’s most interesting feature is certainly the mihrab, a domed shrine of Byzantine mosaics built by Al Hakam II (961-76). It once housed the Koran and relics of Muhammad. In front of the Mihrab is the Maksoureh, a kind of anteroom for the caliph and his court; its mosaics and plasterwork make it a masterpiece of Islamic art.https://mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es/en/

As well as the unique mosque-cathedral, Cordoba’s treasures include the Alcazar, or Royal House, built by the Christians in 1328. The Alcazar served as one of the primary residences of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. From 1490 to 1821 the Inquisition operated from here. Today the castle’s gardens are among the most beautiful in Andalucía and also take time to enjoy the Roman mosaics…they are truly special. In a hall which housed the former chapel of the Inquisitions there are exhibited a magnificent collection of Roman mosaic art from the 2nd and 3rd century AD. The collection was discovered under Corredera Square in the city in 1959 and once belonged to a wealthy Roman Mansion. Outside the main castle walls the gardens occupy 55.000 square metres. It is certainly a very relaxing place to wander. There is a wide variety of plants, palm trees, cypresses, orange and lemon, trees to be seen which overlook stone fountains and large ponds. Originally the water was brought in by an aqueduct from the Sierra Morena and the great Albolafia waterwheel in the River Guadalquivir nearby helped with the supply. The large ponds were added in the 19th century.https://alcazardelosreyescristianos.cordoba.es/?id=3

Then we enjoy Lunch with a wine tasting.

…and a floral feast for the eyes, the Palacio de los Viana.

We enjoy guided visits of the Alcazar and Mezquita and a quiet joyful time to wander on our own through the many gardens of Viana. This 17th-century palace is one of Córdoba’s most splendid aristocratic homes. Also known as the Museo de los Patios, it contains 12 interior patios, each one different; the patios and gardens are planted with cypresses, orange trees, and myrtles and more. I was so delighted to see this that I bought a book on the patio gardens here…well worth it! https://www.palaciodeviana.com/

Hotel NH Amistad – Superior Room – 1 Night

History surrounds you the second you step inside the NH Collection Amistad Córdoba hotel. Made up of two 18th century palaces, its traditional courtyards are filled with flowers and shaded by orange trees, archways and woodwork have been restored to their 18th-century glory, with a few carefully-chosen modern touches. Plus it’s right in the historic heart of Córdoba, 5 minutes’ walk from the city’s shops. Our quiet, contemporary-style rooms all come with views of our pretty courtyards, Maimonides Square or the historic wall which once separated the Jewish and Christian sections of Cordoba. Our stylish courtyard café offers up delicious local dishes while our 2 open-air patios are a wonderful place to unwind with a drink. https://www.nh-collection.com/hotel/nh-collection-amistad-cordoba

Breakfast and Lunch with wine tasting included, Dinner on own Pack up this evening, check safe and power adaptors you may have used.

The Portocarrero Palace, together with its Hispano-Mudejar-style botanical gardens surrounded by Almohad walls from the 11th-12th centuries, form a spectacular complex located in the heart of Andalusia, between Córdoba and Seville. It is an architectural jewel that was hidden and in ruins and that after years of careful restoration it shines again. A beautiful architectural monument cataloged BIC (Well of Cultural Interest) that has a rich ancient history, a mix of civilizations that dates back to 105 AD in Roman times. The Portocarrero Palace offers us its Roman legend, both Roman and Arab archaeological remains and a building with areas from the 15th and 16th century mainly.

https://palacioportocarrero.com/

According to legend, Sevilla was founded by Hercules and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilization. It was called Hispalis under the Romans and Isbiliya with the Moors. Sevilla lies on the banks of the Guadalquivir and is one of the largest historical centers in Europe, it has the Minaret of La Giralda, the Cathedral (one of the largest in Christendom), and the Alcázar Palace. Part of its treasure also includes Casa de Pilatos.

From the Palacio we head to Sevilla and our first stop is Lunch in Carmona

The history of Carmona begins at one of the oldest urban sites in Europe, with nearly five thousand years of continuous occupation on a plateau rising above the vega (plain) of the River Corbones in Andalusia, Spain.  30 minutes away from Seville, it impresses with a manifold history. Stronghold during the time of Julius Caesar, occupied by the Moors and finally captured by the Castilians, Carmona is an architectural melting pot of 3 cultures.  We will enjoy lunch in a very special place.

After our lunch we visit the Palacio de las Duenas in Sevilla a very special place in time…

For the first time the Palacio de las Dueñas— built between the XV and XVI centuries and residence of the renowned Duchess of Alba— opens its doors to the public, thus offering a unique opportunity to discover this Andalusian gem and the pride of Spain. One of the oldest and most illustrious noble houses in Spain, the House of Alba, boasts a rich heritage, which dates back many centuries and encompasses several magnificent estates located all over the country as well as a great cultural and artistic legacy. (Audio guide here)

https://www.azureazure.com/travel/palacio-de-las-duenas-official-residence-house-alba-pride-seville

https://www.lasduenas.es/visitor-information

Then on to our hotel where the rest of the day/evening is at your leisure.

Hotel Becquer – Standard Room – Two Nights

Hotel Bécquer is located in the old town of Seville, in a unique and privileged location in the city. From here, you can enjoy pleasant walks on the city streets, discover its emblematic spots, mix with the people, taste the exquisite cuisine (especially in the traditional Triana district) and admire its characteristic architectural beauty. Seville Cathedral, the Giralda or the Santa Cruz district are all less than a 10-minute walk away.

https://www.hotelbecquer.com/en/

Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on own

After breakfast we start our day out with a visit to the Hospital Venerables Sacerdotes. This building was founded by Justino de Neve in the 17th century as a hospital and retirement home for priests. It is in the Baroque style and comprises two sections. The first is the residence built by Leonardo de Figueroa and features original elements such as the tiled galleries arranged in a circle leading to the fountain, and the staircase beneath an elliptical vault decorated with Baroque plasterwork. The second part of the building is a church with a half-barrel vault with lunettes and rib arches. It now houses the Centro Velázquez, devoted to famous painter Diego Velázquez.…A beautiful 17th century baroque mansion, Seville’s most typical patio – embellished with plants and intimate in design and of course decorated in tiles, a church filled with rich murals and frescoes (now used for music), and a painting done by Diego Velazquez called ‘Santa Rufino’ the Patron Saint of Seville, painted between 1632 -1634 and what more you do need? If you know your artists this is indeed a very special and very rare visit.

https://hospitalvenerables.es/

Then on to visit the Alcazar and Gardens. Our guide will take us through this incredibly impressive monument of Sevilla. The site was initially a Roman settlement, later used by the Visigoths. In 712 Seville was conquered by the Arabs, who transformed the building into a palace-fortress. When Fernando III of Castile regained the city in 1248, the Alcázar became the Royal Palace. His son, Alfonso X, initiated the first works and ordered the construction of the Gothic Palace. The numerous rooms, patios and halls vary in architectural styles from the Islamic to Neoclassical. The beautiful gardens and fountains are all different in look, feel and decoration. The garden-orchards not only supplied food for the palace residents but had the aesthetic function of bringing pleasure. Water was ever present in the form of irrigation channels, runnels, jets, ponds and pools. The gardens adjoining the Alcázar of Seville have undergone many changes. In the 16th century during the reign of Philip III the Italian designer Vermondo Resta introduced the Italian Mannerist style. Resta was responsible for the Galeria de Grutesco (Grotto Gallery) transforming the old Muslim wall into a loggia from which to admire the view of the palace garden. https://alcazar.nomadgarden.org/gardens/real-alcazar/

Then we will enjoy Lunch.

Followed by a panoramic tour by coach on our way to our next visit….. Plaza de España was built for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929 (Expo 29), along with many of the pavilions you can see in and around the Parque Maria Luisa which is across from this. The Maria Luisa Gardens were built by JCN Forestier. Plaza de España will take your breath away. I was simply stunned as I stood and looked at it. Seville’s most impressive and majestic after the cathedral, for its sheer scale and grandeur. All that tilework – from guardrails to finials on the roofs and everything in between – you must see this in person to truly appreciate that each tile piece is unique. The building is a semi circular brick building, Renaissance/neo-Moorish in style, with a huge tower at either end. All along the wall in front of the building are 48 alcoves with benches – one for each province of Spain, each with a relevant tableau and map, all designed on colourful azulejos (painted ceramic tiles). In front of the building, following the curve of its façade, is a 500-metre canal crossed by four bridges. Lots of boats on this lake with people happily paddling as they made their way around. It was simply amazing to stand on one of these bridges and take it all in.

https://www.seville-traveller.com/plaza-de-espana/

Then back to our hotel for the rest of the day/evening at your leisure.

Did you know? The Giralda minaret is a masterpiece of Almohad architecture built in 1184 to 1197. It stands next to the Cathedral with its five naves; the largest Gothic building in Europe (and holds the tomb of Christopher Columbus). Make time to visit if you can as it is worth seeing and yes – do walk all the way up to the top of the minaret for an incredible memory. (I did) to discover that there are no steps, just a wide ramp because when the minaret was built the Imam used to ride a horse up to the top for the call to prayer! (or so the story goes)

Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on own.

Pack up this evening, check safe and power adaptors you may have used. Keep passport in carry on.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a Mediterranean and cosmopolitan city with Roman remains, medieval quarters and the most beautiful examples of 20th century Modernism and avant-garde. It is no surprise that emblematic constructions by the Catalan architects Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Doménech i Montaner have been declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. We will have a box lunch while on the train as we pass by olive groves and orange orchards. It is a lovely ride.

Arriving into Barcelona on the AVE Train, we board our coach and go to Sagrada Familia.

Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia.

I did not know what to expect on the inside…I only knew that even with the scaffolding from continual building I was mesmerized by every inch of it on the outside. It was so totally bizarre. The outside is busy, colourful in spots with the tiles yet so very grey, having so much symbolism and inside….well, I loved it for being so different from the outside! As with all of Gaudi’s work, you either like it or not but I don’t think you can make that presumption without seeing it in person. It is so different from our usual thinking and it just plain takes time for it all to sink in. I loved the peace that I felt inside, especially when the sun shone through the most beautiful and unique stained glass windows you will set your eyes on. When this happens you cannot help but look up and feel you are being transported on one of the beams of colour. At the time of Gaudi’s death in 1926 less than a quarter of this project was complete. They say it should be complete by 2026, the centenary of his death.

Paul Goldberger, an American architectural critic and educator, called it “The most extraordinary personal interp retation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages.” The building’s design itself has been polarizing. Assessments by Gaudí’s fellow architects were generally positive; Louis Sullivan greatly admired it, describing Sagrada Família as the “greatest piece of creative architecture in the last twenty-five years. It is spirit symbolized in stone”. George Orwell called it “one of the most hideous buildings in the world” James A. Michener called it “one of the strangest-looking serious buildings in the world” and British historian Gerald Brenan stated about the building “Not even in the European architecture of the period can one discover anything so vulgar or pretentious.” The building’s distinctive silhouette has nevertheless become symbolic of Barcelona itself, drawing an estimated 2.5 million visitors annually.

Did you know? Since he was convinced that nothing of value could be achieved without sacrifice, Gaudi dedicated himself to an austere life of prayer and detachment. On occasion Gaudi had expressed a desire to die in a hospital among the poor people. This came to pass when he was run down by a street car. The police didn’t recognize him and seeing him a poor man, they took him to the Holy Cross Hospital, where he died June 10th, 1926.

https://sagradafamilia.org/

https://sagradafamilia.org/-/la-sagrada-familia-ofereix-una-nova-visita-virtual-de-l-obra-a-135-metres-d-altura?redirect=%2F

I have chosen what I think are the most representative of his works on this tour but there is much more that you can discover on your leisure day in Barcelona. Here are some more ideas….

http://www.globotreks.com/destinations/10-gaudi-buildings-barcelona/

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/attractions/barcelona-architecture.html

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/attractions/barcelona-tourist-attractions.html

Also worth walking to is the Block of Discord, noted for having buildings by four of Barcelona’s most important Modernista architects. Their styles were very different and here you see them all up close and they seem to clash with each other creating this discord.

https://www.barcelonas.com/manzana-de-la-discordia.html

Capri by Fraser – Studio Apartment – Four Nights

Nearby is the impressive National Theatre of Catalonia, the modern musical complex L’Auditori and the club Razzmatazz that hosts the hottest gigs and parties in Barcelona. Capri by Fraser also has the perfect view point to see the sky scraper Torre Agbar, a must see attraction when in town. The hotel has a lovely rooftop terrace where you can sit back and enjoy the view. Your room is lovely and bright and comes with its own little mini kitchen. Twin beds for those sharing a room and Queen bed for single or double.

https://www.frasershospitality.com/en/spain/barcelona/capri-by-fraser-barcelona/?utm_source=google_map&utm_medium=organic

Breakfast and Box Lunch Included, Dinner on own

Sit back, enjoy the spectacular Mediterranean views from our coach as we make our way out of Barcelona to the Botanical Gardens of Marimurtra.

Located in Blanes, in Costa Brava, the Marimurtra Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens on the Mediterranean. At the top of steep cliffs running along the sea, you can enjoy one of the most spectacular panoramic views over the coastline and get to know more than four thousand plant species, most of them exotic ones, as well as several specimens that are extraordinary because of their age or size. Marimurtra is the work of a man with a passion for nature. Carl Faust was a businessman residing in Catalonia who devoted his hopes, his efforts and all his fortune to make his dream come true, the Botanical Garden Marimurtra.

https://marimurtra.cat/en/

Tossa de Mar – Some leisure stroll time in this glorious seaside resort before our Lunch.

Before becoming a tourist resort, Tossa de Mar was a small fishing village, and before this, was involved in various other industries such as cork, food preservation, charcoal burning, wine making and olive oil production. At one time, Tossa even had a fleet of boats which traded with other Mediterranean ports and America. Another important part of Tossa’s history was the filming of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman in the 1950s, with Ava Gardner and James Mason in starring roles. At one of the most spectacularly astounding viewpoints of the Vila Vella, there is a magnificent bronze statue of the renowned American actress, Ava Gardner. A tranquil stroll around the old town reveals a multitude of intricately interwoven alley ways laden with plants, each leading to it’s own spectacular pine framed view of the bay of Tossa, lapped by the sparkling topaz blue Mediterranean, sunlight drizzling through the branches. It is one of the most enchanting villages you will ever walk around in…

We finish off this exquisitely relaxed day with a guided visit to Santa Clotilde Gardens in Lloret de Mar.

This wonderful garden was landscaped in a setting of great beauty on top of a cliff with breath taking views over the sea. It is a fine specimen of the spirit that animated the Noucentista movement in Calalonia – an early 20th century movement for intellectual and aesthetic renewal that found a distinguished spokesman in the writer Eugeni d’Ors. The Santa Clotilde gardens were designed in the manner of the dainty yet austere gardens of the Italian Renaissance by Nicolau Rubió i Tuduri at the age of twenty-eight, when he was still brimming over with admiration for his master in the art of landscape gardening, JCN Forestier. In these gardens, Rubió ignored Forestier’s teachings with their Spanish-Arabic slant mixed up with images of the French garden, as he had seen when working with Forestier, and instead sought to recover the spirit of the Italian Renaissance as the essence of modernity. A new bourgeoisie was then emerging, looking back nostalgically on the prestige enjoyed by patrons of the arts during the Renaissance. The garden greets us with a blend of features from the Villa Medici, the Villa Borghese and perhaps the Boboli gardens as well – Florence was where one went for inspiration at the time. The spirit of romanticism underlies the garden, expressed in the marble bust glimpsed amid the vines, looking out to sea with its back to us – another delightful parody of that romantic sentiment of union with nature, closer to Leopardi than to his master C.D. Friedrich. These gardens, work on which began before the house, feature a collection of marble statues in the neo-classical style and the mermaids by the sculptress Maria Llimona. All the paths, avenues, squares and steps are set off by clipped hedges that form splendid green architectural shapes.

https://barcelonanavigator.com/santa-clotilde-gardens/

Then we make our way back to our hotel…renewed in spirit and basking in the memories. Evening at your leisure.

Breakfast and Lunch included with Dinner on own.

Barcelona is very easy to walk around and enjoy and our hotel is very close to great shopping venues as well. Make your own memories today as you stroll, remember to look up as you walk too or you will miss some great architectural features. Cafes seem to be on every street corner and as I walked along the streets I had the distinct feeling I was at home…Barcelona can do that to you.

Breakfast included, Lunch and Dinner on own.

Today, our last day together, I want to share two very special places we will visit…both so special and so utterly unique.

Casa Milà, popularly known as ‘La Pedrera’, is probably one of the most famous buildings of the Catalan Modernisme or Catalan Art Nouveau period and one of the architect Antoni Gaudí’s most ambitious works. It is a structure that is a work of art in itself. Gaudí planned Casa Milà (1906–1912) at the age of fifty-three, when he was at the height of his powers and had found a style of his own – independent of any established ones. It turned out to be his last civil work and one of the most innovative in its functional, constructive and ornamental aspects. Indeed, thanks to his artistic and technical ideas, it has always been considered a breakthrough work, outside the concepts of the time, a rara avis in Modernisme itself and, especially, a work that anticipated the architecture of the 20th century.

https://www.lapedrera.com/en/home

and ever wonder what it is like to live there?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/29/world/europe/barcelona-gaudi-la-pedrera-casa-mila.html

and

https://thisisglamorous.com/2022/08/design-history-decor-inspiration-the-last-resident-of-casa-mila-ana-viladomiu-barcelona-designed-by-antoni-gaudi.html/

and lastly

https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/history/barcelona-casa-mila-la-pedrera-gaudi-guide.html

And Finally…

The Palau de la Música Catalana is one of the most representative monuments of Art Nouveau architecture. An emblematic building of the Catalan Modernism, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Built between 1905 and 1908 by the great architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner, the Palau de la Música Catalana is an architectural jewel of Barcelona. Our guided tours starts in the Rehearsal Hall of the Orfeó Catala, where the foundation stone of the building was laid in 1905 and where even today, as it has for more than 100 years, the choir of the Orfeó Català rehearses regularly. Sitting in this intimate space, you can find out the reason for its importance with an audiovisual tour. The tour continues along the grand staircase decorated with flowers, Catalan flags and a single rail: built in a clever combination of a range of materials including iron and glass to create a world of detail which never ceases to amaze. Next we’ll visit the Lluís Millet Hall, where you can glimpse the large balcony with columns symbolizing flowers of every kind, in a tribute to nature. Finally we’ll go into the Concert Hall where an explosion of colour, shapes and light will welcome you to this great masterpiece of decorative art which amazes and inspires visitors and artists day after day. You will also go up to the second floor, next to the great skylight a drop of water and honey, a source of both light and inspiration. And finally the organ of the Palau, overlooking the room, will accompany you on a little musical journey. What an ending to a magical tour!

https://www.palaumusica.cat/en/the-art-nouveau-building_23602

We will all then enjoy our final Farewell Lunch together – a time to say goodbye to old and new friends, toast a wonderful tour and make our way back to our hotel.

Breakfast and Farewell Lunch Included with Dinner on your own

Or you may have chosen to stay on. If you want to use the same hotel do let me know so I can confirm post tour nights for you.

Depending on your flights, it might be advisable to come in a pre tour night so you are rested and ready to get together for an evening meal as a group and meet our guide, Christina. 

Please indicate on your registration form if you wish a pre tour night at time of registration so we can confirm.

https://www.acrotel.gr/elea-beach/

Elea Beach Hotel is a 4-star hotel boasting an outdoor salt-water pool as well as freshwater pool surrounded by gardens. All rooms off Air/con, Coffee & Tea facilities, Free wifi, Fridge, Hairdryer, TV

Evening meal at hotel to meet each other and Christina Lambert, our tour guide in Corfu and Athens. Christina now lives and gardens on Corfu after many years of plant cultivation in Athens.

Welcome Dinner Included

Depart 09.30 by coach for a visit to the iconic Vlacherna Monastery, built on a small island off the coast accessible via a short walkway. https://www.mykerkyra.com/en/vlacherna-monastery/

Return to coach and drive to Achilleion Palace The former summer residence of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sissi Schlösschen, is currently closed for restoration work and only the garden is open to visitors. However we hope both will be open for our tour.

https://atcorfu.com/corfu-achillion-palace/

A very special treat for you today … Christina, our guide, has invited us to her place of work, the large Stockdale Estate at Gastouri,  where they are planning new gardens as well as renovations to existing ones. They have offered us lunch AND we will also meet Rachel Weaving, author of ‘Gardens of Corfu’. Rachel would love to share some of her vast knowledge on the history of Corfu gardens with you plus she will sign copies of her book if you choose to buy one. We had the pleasure of meeting Rachel on our last visit there and I know you will all love getting to know her. Please, if you want a copy of her book and want to reserve it so you have one, let me know and when together she will sign your copy so you can get a photo of that.

‘‘What makes a garden Corfiot? Certain ingredients based on local craft traditions appear in gardens both old and new, and form elements of a Corfiot style:

• Stonework for building, terracing, and ornament;

• Wrought ironwork, often using patterns based on old Venetian models; and

• Big terracotta urns like those that were once used for storing and exporting olive oil.

• Corfu gardeners also make quite distinctive plant choices: olive, citrus, and, in the last thirty years, native pencil cypress trees, are favorites, as are wisteria, jasmine, and orange trumpet vine. People also noticeably choose plants for their scent.

And a tradition that Corfu shares with the rest of Greece is the avlí—the courtyard garden close to the house—in which people grow both flowers and fruit.’ Rachel Weaving

After lunch transfer to Corfu town for a wonderful guided walk of around 2 hours…After our guided walk you have free time in Corfu and can either go back to hotel for dinner at hotel (return by bus or taxi) or stay in Corfu for dinner (return by taxi) at your leisure.

Breakfast & Lunch Included with dinner on own

Corfu has many beautiful gardens, large and small. We will visit some of the gardens in Rachel’s book. This will be a full day tour by coach at a leisurely pace and we will see parts of the island which we will not visit later while on Corfu. Expect to visit some of the smaller, more personal gardens. Lunch will be a picnic in a suitable location, possibly an olive oil tasting centre, depending on which gardens we visit      https://gardensofcorfu.com/      and   https://gardensofcorfu.com/about

Breakfast and Picnic Lunch Included with dinner on own

Depart 9 am for visit to the beautiful and extensive and very private Rothschild Estate, Kassiopi, with its many varied landscapes and rich history.  A spectacular garden on an estate which occupies the two peninsulas at Kanonas and Strongilo overlooking the coast of Albania, the Rothschild Estate is a place which has been nurtured by three generations of the same family and skillfully embraces the wild landscape. The natural rock formations contribute a dramatic element with a former quarry transformed into a great pool by the Spanish architect Xavier Barba. Here pendulous forms of fragrant clumped rosemary on the cliff face and a long tightly-clipped undulating hedge of rosemary define views of the sea and wild mountains beyond. From the moment I walked through the archway of this garden I knew it was going to be special and dare I say extraordinary…

Did you know?  The villa has often hosted both royals and celebrities, while it was a favourite summer retreat for Princess Diana.

Lunch at Kerasia Taverna right by the beach

Afternoon visit to two exceptional private gardens in north-eastern Corfu – Lamari and Sto Dasos and return inland to the hotel.

Breakfast & Lunch Included with dinner on own

Depart early by coach to catch ferry to Igoumenitsa, port for entry to mainland Greece.  Time to eat our breakfast box as we cross the strait to the mainland.

Our route takes us through the mighty Pindus mountains and we will have a stop for lunch at Ioannina lake.  We pass through Kalambaka, home of the perched monasteries at Meteora and will make a short stop at Volos marina for a refreshment and short walk by the yacht harbour. We then follow the Pagasitic coast of the Pelion peninsula to the traditional hilltop village of Lafkos.

Our hotel for the next few days will be at Lagou Raxi Country Hotel.  This is the hotel of my ground handler, Sue, and you will love it.  One of the most glorious views across the pool area where you can sit and enjoy your morning coffee or evening drink.  The hotel is surrounded by gardens as well…draw a bit, read a bit – lots of books and magazines there –  and even take part in botanical painting if you wish…the village is a short walk away and really charming.

http://www.lagouraxi.com/

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

After breakfast we leave for an amazing drive by coach along the Aegean sea, with spectacular views across to the Sporadic islands and maybe even Mt. Athos. We visit another very special private garden – Serpentin Garden Tsagarada   http://www.serpentin-garden.com/contact.html)

We drive down to the sea for lunch at Karagatsi Taverna – Damouchari.  If you watched the movie Mama Mia do you remember where they did the dance scene on the dock? Well this is where we will have lunch …. the film location. (When I was there, the dock was gone but not my memories.) the food, the little village to stroll in, the ambiance of it all…joyful.

On return the private garden of botanist Gereon Bueschges and his wife Karin with wonderful views west across the Pagassitic Gulf.  House and garden nestled in an ancient olive grove.

Breakfast & Lunch Included with dinner on own … we are thinking of having dinner in the local square in Lafkos with Sue who runs Lagou Raxi as well as the Mediterranean Centre for Art, Gardens, Plants and Design. It was such a lovely experience before. https://www.volosinfo.gr/discover/lafkos-village/

Morning free or take the opportunity to try your hand at Botanical Illustration before a snack of your choice at hotel followed by local wine tasting at Milea winery https://milea-winery.business.site/#gallerym

We enjoyed this so much, just sitting and sipping while the sun set enveloped in a sea of grape vines.

Breakfast and Wine Tasting and on our way back from the winery, a very tasty treat!

In the morning we will visit by coach first a Greek pottery museum and after that to Heart and Fire Cretan Pots, a gardening centre where there is a large collection of typical Greek pots.  Landscape gardener Lily Bakratsa-Papantoniou, who has studied and worked in London, will talk about how to choose and place pots, as well as giving some valuable ideas for how to mix plants for the best ongoing results.

Picnic lunch in a large garden nearby where the owners have successfully combined olive trees left in situ alongside new dwarf fruiting trees to create a small orchard and a large vegetable garden.  (They also have geese, ducks and other animals!)

Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner Included

Early departure from Pelion for drive to Marathonas, north of Athens.  (Breakfast box on coach.)

Visit to Ioannis Gryllis Water Lilies.  This is nursery which is constantly evolving with much more to see than the water lilies.  Ioannis’s mother will prepare lunch for us (incredible home cooking and such a lovely warm family) while we stroll around the grounds and marvel at the range of grasses, Mediterranean plants and specialist varieties which are on display.  Ioannis is fascinated by unusual plants and will let you see some of his collection and show you some of his newer garden ideas resulting from his overseas travels…you will frankly be amazed at how much there is here.

‘Gryllis Water Lilies was founded in 2011 by Ioannis Gryllis, Agronomist, M.Sc. Landscape Architect at first specializing in the production of aquatic plants. The company’s headquarters and production facility is located in Marathon where you can find a wide variety of plants (over 400 species) suitable for ponds but also for garden planting. Nursery for ornamental aquatic & aquatic plants, ornamental grasses, shade plants, perennial herbs, exotic plants, and xylosophytes. ‘Our love for the plants that started as a hobby, combined with the university studies, contribute to our excellent training and experience, with the construction and supply of plants in Greece and abroad.’

https://www.grylliswaterlilies.gr/

Continue by coach to our Hotel in Athens.      TBC

Breakfast Box, Lunch and Dinner included

Sparoza Garden is the home of the Mediterranean Garden Society which has branches and members throughout the world in Mediterranean climate regions (for example California, South and West Australia, South Africa, European countries in the Mediterranean basin, Israel and Chile)

This garden has a fascinating history and you can read more about it and the MGS at

https://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/sparoza.html

Did you know? If it weren’t for an olive tree, Poseidon might have been the city’s patron. According to mythology Athena and Poseidon competed for the title of the guardian of the city. They each offered a gift to gain favour of its people and the gods, but Athena’s olive tree was deemed more valuable than the salt water spring given by Poseidon, so her name was given to the city-state. The Olive Tree symbolizes Peace and Prosperity.

Nearby is the fascinating Vorres Museum where a light  lunch at ‘To Cafe’ is available before a visit to the gardens 

I have to tell you that I was so taken with this place, loved every square inch of the folk art museum and those gardens… wow. The Vorres Museum is a cultural foundation that was established in 1983, with the purpose of promoting Greek art and culture, through a broad spectrum of activities, from the organization of exhibitions in Greece and abroad, to educational programs for children.

The Vorres Museum which sprawls over six acres, is divided into two main sections: the museum of contemporary Greek art and the folk art museum, both of which house collections that cover at least 2500 years of Greek history. The whole complex is laid out in a way that showcases the Greek spirit in a unique fashion. In the contemporary part, one of the most important and representative collections of its kind in the world is exhibited, comprising paintings, installations and sculptures by leading Greek artists, displaying a Greek interpretation of most of the international artistic currents of the second half of the 20th century. The folk art section, is an extraordinary complex of 19th century buildings, courtyards and gardens or rather a re-adaptation and readjustment of traditional Greek architectural features housing antiquities, icons, ceramics, popular artifacts and objects used in daily Greek life centuries ago, in a manner, revealing their inherent beauty and their practical use.

The gardens, wild and consisting almost entirely of Mediterranean flora are an indispensable part of the museum being described by many as the most beautiful gardens in Athens.

https://www.vorresmuseum.gr/content/93/the-gardens-/eng

We will then move on to the gardens of Liberto Dario in the same area.  Liberto grows flowers for seed which he originally collects in the wild.  His collection is huge and the compact gardens are fully stocked, particularly in May…He is an incredible and passionate plants person…you will really enjoy this visit!

https://www.facebook.com/liberto.dario

Breakfast and Lunch Included with dinner on own

Today, after a later breakfast we have a unique visit planned…a public space that includes the Greek National Opera, the National Library of Greece as well as the Stavros Niarchos Park, one of the largest green areas in Athens. The SNFCC was created thanks to an exclusive grant by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, which delivered it to the Greek State upon completion and it is supervised by the Greek Ministry of Finance.

The Stavros Niarchos Park, a modern Landscape Architecture project, has been designed in accordance with the principles of sustainability, ecosystems and the alternations of a place that is in constant evolution. It is a welcoming and open space, with plantings and a character that reflects the Mediterranean landscape. Occupying 85% of the SNFCC’s total area, Stavros Niarchos Park stretches over an area of 21 hectares. It is home to a rich variety of flora, including olive trees, evergreen shrubs, carob trees, laurels, cypress trees, as well as an extensive selection of indigenous Greek aromatic plants. Plants were selected and arranged with an eye to providing a variety of seasonal blooming and creating exciting color schemes and textures. The Park includes 16 tree species and 161 shrub species, a variety of grasses and bulbs. Greece’s strong horticultural tradition is celebrated in the open, sunlit Mediterranean Garden. The plant palette alone makes the garden a destination: evergreen and other endemic plants such as boxwood, coronilla, cistus, and lentisc, salvia, oregano, thyme, lavender, rosemary, roses and euphorbias – all add to the sensual pleasure of a visit. Each month brings a new color, and each season introduces a different combination of flowers or foliage.

https://www.snfcc.org/en/snfcc/stavros-niarchos-park

https://www.snfcc.org/en

https://www.snfcc.org/en/snfcc/architecture

Lunch at Thalassino restaurant, very close to Gardens of the SNFCC . Taxis back to hotel (5 minutes)

Breakfast and Lunch Included with dinner on own

Acropolis and Parthenon…As thought and art flourished, an exceptional group of artists put into effect the ambitious plans of Athenian statesman Pericles and under the inspired guidance of the sculptor Pheidias, transformed the rocky hill into a unique monument of thought and the arts. The most important monuments were built during that time. The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/404/

Afterwards we will visit the Acropolis museum to enjoy our Farewell lunch in the Acropolis Museum restaurant before our visit. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It also lies over the ruins of a part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens.

https://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en

Then the rest of the day/evening at leisure after we spend a bit of time in the Plaka area…returning with the group to the hotel or staying on and making your own way back. We will set a time for this…

One of my favorite neighborhoods in Athens, in the shadow of the Acropolis, the Plaka is like a village within the city, an island for those who don’t have the time to visit the Greek Islands. The Plaka is the oldest section of Athens. Most of the streets have been closed to automobile traffic, though you should still keep a watchful eye for a speeding motorcycle or delivery truck. At one time it was the nightclub district, but most of these closed down when the government outlawed amplified music in the neighborhood in the seventies in an effort to get rid of undesirables. The strategy was very successful and it is now an area of restaurants, jewelry stores, tourist shops, and cafes. Though it is quite commercialized it is still a neighborhood and arguably the nicest neighborhood in central Athens.

https://www.athensguide.com/the-plaka/index.html

Did you know? When crossing the streets in Greece, use caution as drivers don’t generally pay attention to pedestrian crossings. It’s so crazy in fact that a driver is more likely to make a sharp turn around you than actually slow down or stop to let you cross.

Breakfast, Farewell Lunch included with dinner on your own.

Transfers to Athens International Airport from hotel on your own– confirm with hotel concierge

Your Hotel… Holiday Inn London – Kensington High Street, Wrights Lane, London in Premium Rooms

After arrival into London please make your way to your hotel. Check in 3 pm and if you arrive earlier they will hold your luggage. Once in your room, unpack that bag and put it away…you won’t need to see it again for 8 nights.

Located steps from Kensington’s popular and stylish High Street, minutes from the nearest tube station and walking distance to London attractions such as Kensington Palace & Gardens, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum & Science Museum. The Boulevard Restaurant serves hot full English & Continental buffet breakfast every day, and delicious contemporary European dishes for lunch or dinner.  Also Lounge Bar and Open Lobby Café.

https://www.hilondonkensington.com/

The simplest and most economical way to get to the Holiday Inn Hotel is to take the underground from the London Heathrow Airport at whatever terminal – Piccadilly Line to Earls Court then change to District Line getting off at the High Street Kensington Station where you will find not only Boots but Marks & Spencer with a great food hall. Hotel is a short walk through the back of the station. Note: Stairs at the various stations. If more than one person you may want to share a cab but it is expensive.

After breakfast we will leave by coach for our visit to this delightfully plant packed garden. You are free to wander the gardens on your own.  There is so much to see here including the new Welcome Building.  You can see it here… https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/garden-highlights/welcome-building

Wisley was founded by Victorian businessman and RHS member George Ferguson Wilson, who purchased a 60-acre site in 1878. He established the “Oakwood Experimental Garden” on part of the site, where he attempted to “make difficult plants grow successfully”. Wilson died in 1902 and Oakwood was purchased by Sir Thomas Hanbury, the creator of the celebrated garden La Mortola on the Italian Riviera which I have had the pleasure of visiting. He gave both sites to the RHS the following year. Wisley is now a large and diverse garden covering 240 acres. In addition to numerous formal and informal decorative gardens, several glasshouses and an extensive arboretum, it includes small scale “model gardens” which are intended to show visitors what they can achieve in their own gardens, and a trials field where new cultivars are assessed.

We should be there at the perfect time for the Rhododendrons and Azaleas and you will have time to enjoy the gardens on your own and have lunch on your own at their fabulous café with views to the gardens. Be sure to check out the new exotic garden…I love it. The garden will showcase a diverse range of plants, from palms and bananas to vibrant flowers such as dahlias, cannas and gazanias. Providing an alluring contrast from the nearby Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden and Cottage Garden, the oasis will feature more than 100 species originating from tropical areas as far as Brazil and South Africa in an array of bold shapes and textures. A gorgeous place to wander and just be…

Return back to hotel.

Breakfast included, lunch on own and Our Welcome Dinner – 3 courses with glass of wine

‘In a house, each room can be quite different to the next, both in appearance and purpose. Each section of a garden can also vary in its appearance and purpose. This is how some of the best landscape designers think of gardens.

Rooms or sections of a garden can be separated by hedges, dense shrubberies, trellis or walls of stone, timber or any other material. The floor of a garden may be covered with gravel, lawn, paving, creepers, low shrubs or even water. The roof is most often the sky; but it could also be the interlocking canopy of large trees or the framework of some other structure such as an arched walk or pergola.

One of the best examples of the outdoor room concept is Hidcote Manor, near Stratford upon Avon in England. Even if you only have a small garden, you can find inspiration in some of Hidcote’s smaller outdoor rooms.

There are 28 distinct garden areas at Hidcote. The series of smaller hedged gardens close to the house are particularly inspiring. Soon after entering Hidcote, most people find themselves at the circle garden. From this point, paths lead in two main directions; one through the Red Borders to the stilt garden, and the other down a series of terraces to the bathing pool garden.’ Café and Garden Center.

https://www.acsgarden.com/articles/garden-travel/hidcote-a-garden-with-many-rooms.aspx

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote

Three Generations of Women Gardeners …

Perched on the edge of the Cotswold Hills, Kiftsgate Court is a family home and garden that has been loved and cultivated by the same family for over 100 years. Three generations of women gardeners have left their mark, each building on the legacy of the previous owner. When Jack and Heather Muir bought the Grecian-fronted Victorian house in 1919, Heather, without any horticultural training, started to layout the Kiftsgate garden straight away. Instead of a lawn, she planted semi-formal beds of roses and other flowers, a Tapestry Hedge with a mix of beech, yew and plain and variegated holly, and a Rose Border full of unusual varieties. Heather’s horticultural aesthetic favored the Arts & Crafts Movement which emphasized perennials and plants chosen for their adaptability, including drought tolerant cistus, spiky agaves and other Mediterranean style plantings. She was encouraged by her friend and next-door neighbor at Hidcote, Lawrence Johnston, and other notable garden designers including Norah Lindsay and Vita Sackville-West—who planted the enormous and famous Kiftsgate Rose (Rosa filipes) at Sissinghurst.

Heather’s daughter, Diany Binny continued the family gardening tradition during the 1950s and quickly became an accomplished plants woman. She extended the planting, creating paths and replanting more borders with shrubs and herbaceous plants and re-fashioned the White Sunk Garden with a pool and fountain. Since the late 1980s, her daughter Anne Chambers and her husband Johnny have brought the garden into the 21st century. They introduced plants that flower year-round and are suited to warmer winters. They also created a new Water Garden with a sculpture by Simon Allison, a woodland with plants from the Scilly Isles, an avenue of tulip trees, and an orchard among other features.    http://www.kiftsgate.co.uk/

Return to our hotel

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on own.

We will arrive at the gates just prior to them opening and once in with show guide in hand, be transported to another world.  It is truly amazing that you are looking at gardens that have just been put together for this show –  you will know what to do first as you will know the tips and secrets of enjoying it… Tips on enjoying this show will be sent prior to the tour.

The show closes at 8 pm but if you wish to leave before that, I will have some ideas for you as well.  You can make your own way back to the hotel at your leisure.  This way you are free to enjoy the show for as long as you like.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/

the 2023 Show

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on your own.

Great Dixter was built in 1910–12 by architect Edwin Lutyens, who combined an existing mid-15th century house on the site with a similar structure brought from Benenden, Kent, together with his own additions. It is a Grade I listed building. (In simple terms, if a building is Grade 1 listed it is deemed to be of exceptional interest and may also have been judged to be of significant national importance. Grade 1 listing is usually reserved for much older and historically-important buildings) The garden, widely known for its continuous tradition of sophisticated plantsmanship, is Grade I listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Great Dixter was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd – it was the focus of his energy and enthusiasm and fuelled over 40 years of books and articles. Now under the stewardship of Fergus Garrett and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust, Great Dixter is an historic house, a garden, a center of education, and a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from across the world. As you enter the grounds you are struck at the sight of the house, so perfect in every quirky way and the planting is perfectly suited to the timbered façade. As you walk through the various gardens you are in fact walking around the house as well.  Perfectly placed plants surrounding home, barns and oast houses. There is a café and shop here.

Great Dixter   https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/

Every gardener I think has heard of Vita Sackville-West and now you are in for another exceptional garden as we visit the home of Vita and her husband Harold Nicolson. They lived at Sissinghurst until 1962, the year she passed away and then in 1967 Harold gave Sissinghurst to the National Trust. She was a prolific writer, poet and most of all gardener. Their history as a couple is really quite amazing and many books have been written on it. The tower is where she wrote novels, plays, poetry and gardening books and is still left as though she was just out for a moment checking something in the garden. They had the most extraordinary life and relationships and both wrote many books…it is worth digging deeper. There is a café and shop here.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/9346537/Vita-Sackville-West-her-gardening-legacy.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/11166590/the-many-sides-of-vita-sackville-west.html

https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/garden-designers/31-vita-sackville-west-1892-1962.html

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-16-bk-6473-story.html

Return back to hotel with your evening at leisure.

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on your own.

In my tour notes to you,  I include lots of ideas on what to do with your day of leisure.  I would suggest that tonight would be the night to book shows or theatre as the tour days are not advised. We just do not know about traffic and I would hate for you to miss an event that you had planned to go to.

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on own.

After a hearty breakfast, we are off to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Kew Gardens is a world heritage site and a place of global significance. Kew contains the most diverse collection of living plants of any botanic garden in the world. The collection contains plants from tropical, temperate, arid and alpine climates, and are grown out in the Gardens and in controlled conditions within glasshouses and nurseries. A must visit is the Palm House and the Lily House right next to it…and the Marianne North Gallery for the most remarkable collection of botanical paintings you will ever see…833 paintings from her travels around the world.  The Shirley Sherwood Gallery – the world’s first public gallery dedicated to classic and contemporary botanical art. There are cafes to have lunch or a cup of tea. I will give you plenty of time here because there is just so much to see and places to rest and enjoy being in this extraordinary garden…plus a huge giftshop!

Map of garden – takes a while to download

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/visit-kew-gardens/map

https://www.kew.org/

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-in-the-gardens/shirley-sherwood-gallery-of-botanical-art

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-in-the-gardens/marianne-north-gallery

Return back to hotel with your evening at leisure.

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on your own.

Now you have seen some extraordinary gardens on this tour and it only seems fitting that the last garden we visit should be West Green House Gardens…it is also extraordinary!! In a beautiful corner of North Hampshire, visit a garden of contrast and inspiration, created by acclaimed garden designer Marylyn Abbott. It is a garden with a special and distinctive sense of place created over two decades by Marylyn Abbott a renowned Australian garden designer whose twin passions for English Gardens and International Opera have created a unique environment. West Green House Gardens combines neo-classical style with contemporary design. A grand water staircase provides a focal point to the Nymphaeum Fountain designed by architect Quinlan Terry. The magnificent Walled Garden, faithfully restored to its original lines, is entered through an arbor of wisteria. An alley of apple trees divides an elaborate potager with its berry-filled fruit cages, annual flowers and colourful vegetables from its signature perennial borders exuberantly planted in subtle hues of mauve, plum and blue. There is a lot more to discover here. There is a lovely gift shop here as well.

To finish off our tour we will also enjoy a wonderful Afternoon Tea in the original Orangery, built in the 1770’s. This is a delightful and enchanting setting, filled to the rafters with plants and garden accessories. The perfect spot to chat and say Farewell….I cannot say enough about this garden, it is truly the perfect ending to an incredible variety of gardens that we have been privileged to visit.. To sit here among the flowers and enjoy Afternoon Tea is just well…magical.

Map of the Garden http://westgreenhouse.co.uk/garden/

Website http://westgreenhouse.co.uk/

Return back to hotel with your evening at leisure or to drag that suitcase out reluctantly and begin to pack…

If your flight is early you can arrange with the hotel to have a grab-and-go bag ready for you.

Independent arrivals, then make your way to your hotel for the next 7 nights. 

Hotel Quinta Penha de França

Rua Imperatriz da Amelia no 85, 9000-018 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Your lovely Superior Room includes a balcony with a side view to the ocean and also to the tropical gardens surrounding the hotel.  Free Wifi, hair dryer mini fridge, tea & coffee tray, safe, tv and aircon.  Unpack that bag and don’t even think about it until the end of the tour.

https://www.penhafrancahotels.com/en/ 

TBC  Drinks and Guest Greetings at the hotel – the timing depends on when everyone arrives.

9:00 am Depart with Guide

Funchal guided tour on foot – a wonderful walk along the streets tells you just how much life goes on here.  Mosts of the shops and restaurants are located in this area and there is lots of shopping and eating to be had! The concierge should have lots of ideas for you.

… a visit to Mercado dos Lavradores or The Workers Market, filled with exotic fruits and flowers – another must visit.  The building dates from 1940 and so well organized…and we are so lucky, we shall even see the ‘flower ladies’ in their traditional costumes.  Large Batisttini Faience tile panels of Maria de Portugal, dated 1940 and painted with regional themes by João Rodrigues, adorn the facade, the main entrance and the fishmonger.

…Cathedral – built in the 16th Century and a main historic landmark, a symbol of power and prosperity.  Of undeniable historical, architectural and artistic value, one of the interior highlights of the Cathedral is the chancel’s altarpiece ordered by King D. Manuel I in 1510-1515. The altarpiece, surmounted by a Gothic canopy, is in the form of a large polyptych, composed of gilt woodwork, supplemented by small sculptures, and oil paintings on wood. The high value of this altarpiece derives from the high technical quality of execution and the fact that it constitutes the only altarpiece of the Manueline period which remains, entirely, in its place of origin. Funchal’s Cathedral (Sé) also features one of Portugal’s most beautiful ceilings, made with wood from the island and the stalls of the chancel boast in Flemish style. The main entrance displays Gothic lines and the gilded woodwork pieces of the 17th Century point to some features of the Manueline period. The church also features an exceptional processional cross, donated by D. Manuel I, considered one of the masterpieces of the Portuguese Manueline goldsmithery.

… Municipal Garden – Also known as Donna Amélia Garden, in memory of the Queen, the Municipal Garden boasts beautiful flowers, plants and trees indigenous to Madeira as well as many other exotic species from all over the world. The construction of this garden dates back to 1880, and the first plants came from Paris and Porto.

… House Frederico Freitas –  The building, identified as a palace in the 19th century press, is the result of successive renovations and expansions, with the romantic interventions, bordering on the exotic, carried out in the second half of the 1800s being particularly striking. In 1941 the House was leased to Dr. Frederico de Freitas (1894-1978), Madeiran lawyer, notary and collector, who lived there for around 40 years, gathering an impressive collection of works of art, later bequeathed to the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
An illustrious personality, Frederico de Freitas played an active role in the local society and culture. He started collecting in the 1930s, but it was the move to the spacious house on Calçada that allowed him to organize his Casa das Coleções. And if its initial focus was on objects related to Madeira, it soon became more encompassing, involving a vast array of sculpture, painting, furniture, ceramics and engraving, of national and foreign origin including an extremely important collection of tiles.

Also of note is the Jardim sobre a Calcada, one of the rare traditional raised gardens still existing in the city complete with flower beds, pebbled pavement, vineyard corridor and the Casinha de Prazer or Pleasure House.

https://cultura.madeira.gov.pt/casa-museu-frederico-de-freitas

…Explore Rua Santa Maria with the characteristic painted doors.  The perfect example of how a bit of imagination can bring a city to life.  Completely reborn and wonderful!  It is now a public outdoor gallery displaying over 200 works of art, most painted on the doors of the houses and local cafes. Up until 2010, Rua de Santa Maria was an old cobbled street in Funchal with old abandoned buildings.

In comes photographer José Maria Zyberchem. He wanted to bring this historic street back to life and make it a center of art – alive and full of spirit. He started the Painted Doors Project, calling on local artists to start painting the old doors in the street. The talented artists were to ‘make something nice’ of these ordinary doors. More and more artists signed up to be part of the project and revive the area door by door. The result is impressive. And the goal of bringing back life to this area? Definitely accomplished! Now it’s filled with good restaurants and galleries, and is a must see destination in town.

…We will taste some local food and drinks… a different way to explore Funchal though its local shops, little restaurants and cafes.

Night: Quinta Penha de França

Breakfast and Food tour Lunch included with Dinner on own

9:00 am Depart with Guide and Driver   

…Palheiro Gardens have been featured in the book “The Gardener’s Garden” by Phaidon press. The book contains a selection of 250 noteworthy gardens from around the world. Of the 250 selected gardens, five are Portuguese and of those, one is in Madeira. This is the Palheiro Gardens, praised among the most beautiful in the world. Palheiro Gardens has also been noted in the Spanish edition of the tourism magazine Condé Nast Traveler.

The land first belonged to the Count of Carvalhal back in 1801. Here he built a hunting lodge with a carriageway entrance of 200 plane trees and imported exotic trees from all over the world including Camelia. In 1885 the estate was purchased by John Blandy and the following generations devoted themselves to the continuous development of the gardens so that today it is considered a Mecca for all botanic lovers. The gardens are famous not only for the variety of plants that grow there but for the beauty of their setting in the hills to the east of Funchal. Many tropical plants have found a home and the visitor can see Hibiscus and Bougainvillea in flower almost all the year round along with Jacaranda, Spathodeas, Erythrinas and Bauhinias in their season. Large specimens of tulips trees, sequois, ginkgo and cedars feature next to South African and Australasian flora for which the gardens are justly famous. Don’t forget to take a look at one of the rarest trees in the garden – the Burmese Saurauia nepalensis.

The family continued the development of the Gardens in the 1900s and it was Mildred Blandy who introduced many plants including proteas from South Africa. In 1997 the Counts’s house was renovated and converted to a hotel known as the Casa Velha do Palheiro, a Relais & Château member.

This Eden is divided into several areas: Main Garden, Sunken Garden, Ribeiro do Inferno, Rose Garden, Lady’s Garden and the Tea-House area where you may admire a Brazilian auracaria and a magnificent New Zealand metrosideros. You may also enjoy lakes with water lilies, an interesting bush-sculptured family of hens and beautiful flower beds with purple and orange flowers. The preservation of this natural treasure has the personal touch of Christina Blandy and a team of dedicated gardeners.

http://www.palheirogardens.com/

https://www.palheironatureestate.com/palheiro-gardens/history.html

https://essential-madeira.com/en/index.php/places/1198-a-garden-amongst-gardens

…Leave for Vale Paraíso for an al fresco lunch followed by a visit of their gardens. The owner, Sofia Camara, will lead the visit and introduce us to the Madeira rich flora here.

Night: Quinta Penha de França

Breakfast and al fresco Lunch included with Dinner on own

9:00 am Depart with Guide and Driver   

…Monte Palace ‘‘Every corner another surprise, so well kept. We walk down to the sound of birds & the water from all the water features. It’s impossible not to go photography mad lol. The richness of the fauna & flora is formidable’  Thousands of plant species and a section devoted solely to the flora of Madeira.’

In the 18th century the English Consul Charles Murray, bought a property south of the church in “Monte” and transformed it into a beautiful estate, then called “Quinta do Prazer” (The Pleasure Estate). Towards the end of the 19th century, some of the wealthiest families of Madeira lived in fine estates situated on the outskirts of Funchal. In 1897, Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues acquired the estate and, inspired by the palaces that he once saw on the margins of the Rhine River, he built a palace-like residence which was later converted into a Hotel named the “Monte Palace Hotel”. This Hotel was visited by eminent national and foreign people who appreciated and enjoyed this lovely resort with its breathtaking views of Funchal and the natural surroundings.

In 1943, Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues passed away. Unfortunately his family did not pursue his undertaking, consequently leading to the closing of the hotel which, in the meantime, was taken over by a financial institution, the “Caixa Económia do Funchal”. In 1987, that Financial Institution sold the Monte Palace Hotel to the entrepreneur José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo. This was how the “Monte Palace Madeira” originated.

Since it’s acquisition the “Monte Palace Madeira” has been re-established, with both exotic plants native to various countries (Cycads and Protea from South Africa, azaleas from Belgium, heather from Scotland, among others) and indigenous plants from the Madeira forest namely, “Laurissilva”, such as ferns, cedars, laurels, Canary Laurels, etc. The garden was also enriched with the introduction of Koi fish into the existing lakes. Two more lakes with a capacity of 300,000 litres of water were also built. These incorporate a sophisticated filtering system and water purifier, without the use of chemicals that ensure a healthy habitat for the fish, which provide an enjoyable display of colours for their visitors.

The garden lanes were adorned with blazonry, squared stones, windows, niches, pagodas, Buddhas, lanterns from different parts of the world and sculptures in natural or cut stone. Walking through the garden, you can admire the renowned ceramic tile collection (dating from 15th – 20th centuries), a panel of 166 terracotta glazed tiles entitled “The adventure of the Portuguese in Japan” and a group of 40 panels portraying the History of Portugal, including the most important events of the kingdoms and the Republics.

During a trip to Japan and China the beauty, culture, way of living as well as the influence of the Portuguese on the Orient charmed Berardo. This is the reason for the existence of two oriental gardens and of a panel called ‘The Adventure of the Portuguese in Japan’. The last is an iron structure where 166 ceramic plates tell the story of a social, commercial and cultural relationship between Portugal and Japan. Among many Chinese and Japanese elements the visitor can find two ‘Fó’ dogs in marble, mythological animals usually put in the temples’ entrance as guardians, several Buddhist sculptures, a dragon surrounded by children representing fertility and several stone lanterns used in Japan to light the way to the tea house.

http://montepalace.com/desktop/?sid=28&lang=en

…Visit Monte village.   

…Lunch at Quinta Jardins do Lago followed by a visit to its tropical gardens, one of the most beautiful quintas on the island and which is now used as a luxury “botanical” hotel. History tells that during the occupation of Madeira, at the time of the Napoleonic wars, this Quinta served as the residence of General Beresford, commander of the British forces. His magnificent sideboard, a reminder of his stay, still adorns their dining room. Dating from 1803, the garden has a fantastic collection of centenary trees, such as Dracaena draco from Madeira, Syncarpia glomulifera from Australia, Cinnamomum camphora from China/Japan, as well as many other fantastic varieties from all over the world as the Jacaranda mimosifolia from Brazil, Pandanus útilis and Revenala madagasceriensis from Madagascar. Recently the gardens have been enlarged by the addition of many new plants including bromeliads, cycads and palms. The different owners of this Quinta always kept in contact with various Botanical Gardens worldwide and invested lots of love and time improving these relaxing and colourful gardens which for 47 years have been the home of “Colombo”, the Quintas giant tortoise.

https://www.jardinsdolago.com/en/

Night: Quinta Penha de França

Breakfast and Lunch included with Dinner on own

9:00 am Depart with Guide and Driver   

…Quinta da Vigia… Bigger isn’t always better, and if you want to enjoy a small but perfectly formed secret garden, then this is it. It isn’t flashy or large, but it makes up for that by being beautifully curated. As part of the president’s residence, this garden is very well cared for, and it has been maintained by many leading figures since the sixteenth century, and it enjoys an elevated position above the port. There is a wide range of stunning flora throughout the garden, and you will see and hear many tropical birds swooping through the air. Wander through the peaceful pathways and spot the resplendent fountains adding a deeper sense of peace to this little and lovely oasis.

https://www.madeira-web.com/en/places/funchal/gardens-parks/quinta-vigia.html

…Continue to Quinta da Boa Vista, where we will tour a spectacular habitat for American bromeliads, martinets from Australia and with a superb collection of hybrid orchids, with owner Patrick Garton.

The garden was founded in the 1960s by the late Group Captain Cecil Garton, O.B.E., in the grounds of the Quinta da Boa Vista, which had been in his family for the past 100 years or so, and where he was born. Cecil Garton’s widow, Betty, is the daughter of Sir William Cooke, one of the pioneers of orchid breeding, particularly of Cymbidiums, as well as being a collector of rare and beautiful natural species. As a bonus, many of the thousands of different varieties of orchids on show here are deliciously fragrant, a fact which is not widely known or appreciated.

Their son Patrick began painting after leaving Oxford University in 1990 with a degree in Botany, after which he pursued a horticultural career, spending three years at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, where he obtained his Horticultural Diploma. The gardens include one of the last and oldest remaining systems of walled stairs terracing, as they were back in the 19th century to be found within the close proximity of the city centre. Visitors to the estate will also chance upon the vestiges of that era such as the wine press and original storage house alongside, not to mention also the thatched cow house which looks so perfect in this setting. The quinta formerly grew market garden produce for visiting ships until approximately 60 years ago when the estate was prepared for Estrelicia (commonly known as the bird of paradise) plants and cut flower production

https://www.madeira-web.com/en/places/funchal/gardens-parks/quinta-boa-vista-orchids.html

…Lunch in a local restaurant

…In the afternoon we have something special planned with a local family – you will just have to wait to see what it might be but it does involve exquisite freshly baked bread, garden chatter, food and a wee bit of wine! Oh, and two very special friends of ours who now make Madeira their home….

Night: Quinta Penha de França

Breakfast and Lunch included with Dinner on your own

9:00 am Depart with Guide and Driver   

…The island’s characteristic levadas – an ingenious system of irrigation using ancient canals that brings mountain water to the slopes and valleys – offer a fascinating 1,400km course to explore a country side of rare beauty. The laurel forest, which dates back to the Tertiary Age and survived the last glaciations, covers about 22, 000 hectares of the island area. Due to its amazing richness, diversity and state of preservation UNESCO recognized and considered the Laurissilva forest a World Natural Heritage.

Funchal, the largest settlement, means “fennel” and was erected on the less windy south side of the island. The only problem, though, was that all the freshwater was on the blustery north side, so an elaborate system of levadas, or aqueducts, was constructed to carry water up and over 6,000-foot volcanic spires. Dug into the forest floor, they trace intricate routes through seven distinct microclimates.

…Visit the village of Santana where you can find the traditional houses of Madeira. These are small triangular and colorful houses made of straw from the cereal plantations and wood dating back to the century when Madeira was discovered.  The high slopes of the roof allowed rainwater to drain.

https://www.idealista.pt/en/news/lifestyle-in-portugal/2022/10/26/5241-traditional-santana-houses-in-madeira-history-and-what-makes-them-so-special#:~:text=The%20typical%20houses%20of%20Santana%2C%20also%20known%20as%20thatched%20roof,people%20of%20this%20autonomous%20region.

…Continue to lunch at Quinta do Furão,  a stunning and magnificent natural landscape that will take your breath away!

…A very special visit today is to a private garden – to be confirmed as we get closer to the tour!

Night: Quinta Penha de França

Breakfast and Lunch included with Dinner on own

9:00 am Depart with Guide and Driver   

…Visit Madeira Botanic Gardens.  Since the 17th century Madeira Island had been waiting for a botanical garden, a dream that came true in 1960. Located 3 km from the centre of Funchal, at Quinta do Bom Sucesso – a private Quinta belonging to the Reid family – where the climate conditions are much in favour of exuberant vegetation.

Once home of hotelier William Reid, these 15 acres of gardens date from 1881. Although famous for its carpet garden (created from all kinds of plants with colourful leaves) the Botanic Garden has much more to offer the visitor. With more than 2000 different plant species and cultivars organised to reflect each of the different ecosystems of the Madeira Islands – coastal plain, mountain forest and upland plateau – there is a great deal to see. There are few places in the world where you can see plants from three continents and three habitats during one visit as you can here. The gardens reach up to 350 metres above sea level and offer a splendid view over the Bay of Funchal. It is owned by the Regional Government of Madeira and, apart from being a beautiful place of leisure, it also serves as a Science and Culture Centre. Throughout the gardens visitors can find the plants labelled with their scientific names, common name and origin.

– Indigenous and endemic plants: This is the place where one can see plants exclusively from Madeira and other Atlantic islands, like the Azores, Canaries and Cape Verde. There are about 100 indigenous plants exhibited, ranging from those characteristically found on the more exposed slopes of Madeira to those typical of mid-altitude vegetation and trees found in Madeira’s natural forest, the ‘Laurissilva’ forest.

– Tree Garden: Here you find plants from ecologically opposed areas of the Earth, like the Himalaya and the Tropics.

– Succulents: The capacity of storing water is what distinguishes the plants in this department, most of them coming from South America.

– Tropical/Cultivated/Aromatic/Medicinal: Several tropical and subtropical fruit trees, such as mango, papaya and avocado, as well as coffee trees, sugar cane and popular medicine plants can be seen in this area.

https://essential-madeira.com/en/index.php/places/400-a-eterna-primavera

…Light Lunch at Quinta Splendida and visit the gardens…a botanical garden at a hotel!

 https://www.quintasplendida.com/botanical-garden

….You have to admit…it has been a stellar time in Madeira and what a fitting finale.  Surrounded by lush subtropical gardens, Reid’s Palace perches above picture-perfect Funchal Harbour. We will experience a visit to these glorious gardens, soaking all we can in as a reminder of this wonderful time together and afterwards sit and relax over late Afternoon Tea on the terrace facing that beautiful sea before saying our final goodbyes….or will they be ‘see you again soon!’

On November 1, 1891, the first “afternoon tea at Reid’s” was served, a tradition that continues to this day. In order to celebrate its 131 years, Reid’s Palace, a Belmond Hotel, teamed up with the famous Portuguese porcelain producer Vista Alegre to design a porcelain tea set. Inspired by the blue jade flower, the highlight of Reid’s gardens and the iconic flower of Madeira Island, Vista Alegre conceived a commemorative collection, reflecting, according to Vista Alegre representatives, “the tradition, exclusivity, sophistication and the art of hospitality in forms, motifs and tones of this service, destined to perpetuate the famous five o’clock tea, which attracts visitors from all over the world”, and “Vista Alegre embraced the challenge with the Flor Jade decoration, full of sensitivity and symbolism, homage to the Reid’s Palace hotel and the natural beauties of the Pearl of the Atlantic”.

NOTE: Smart Casual attire for Afternoon Tea please

Night: Quinta Penha de França

Breakfast and Light Lunch and Afternoon Tea included with Dinner on own

‘The ‘pearl of the Atlantic’ is in fact made of green, cherished among the ocean blue. And her gardens give Madeira all the colors of the world.’  Safe Journey Onward…..

Transfer on your own to your hotel in Istanbul where the rest of the day is at leisure. Check in time is 3 pm.

Taking a taxi from the airport is very easy to do as well.  Recent check on pricing was around 35-40 Euros.  We can arrange a private transfer for you but they are expensive…120 Euros for 1 or 2 people.  Advise if you would prefer this.

I also advise coming in 1 pre tour night so that you have time to settle in before our tour but I do need to know that asap.

Located along the banks of the Bosphorus strait, the city of Istanbul is rich in culture and history, and is an amazing place to visit. You can learn a lot about Islamic culture and see dazzling displays of artwork and architecture that were created during the reign of the Ottoman Empire.  Istanbul, formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, played for centuries a major part in world politics, first as the capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, then as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, the most powerful Islamic empire in the world. Nowadays, Istanbul’s Asian side is filled with Western-style sprawling suburbs, while its European side is a wonderland of mosques, magnificent palaces, and crowded bazaars.  Istanbul, the only city that straddles two continents.

Overnight in Istanbul

Radisson Blu Pera Hotel – Superior View Room

https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-istanbul-pera

Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Pera offers you the ultimate Turkish experience with unique views to the Golden Horn. The hotel is in the Pera district which is known as the center for cultural, arts and entertainment in İstanbul and is within walking distance to most historical sights and public transportation. Between the hotels, delicious food and drink facilities are the Super Breakfast buffet and the A la Carte restaurant with its magnificent Golden Horn view.

After breakfast we drive to the Asian Side of Istanbul to explore Nezahat Gokyigit Botanic Garden, an unexpected oasis amongst the towering high-rise blocks and motorways that surround it. To date, more than 50,000 trees and shrubs have been planted in this 50-hectare park, which aspires to establish the largest collection of oaks in the world. A section of the garden is devoted to scented plants and there is also a rock and screen garden.     https://www.ngbb.org.tr/en/index.html

Our tour continues to a very peaceful Baltalimanı Japanese Garden, inspired by the Chofu Garden on the Kanmon Straits of Japan. Complete with a traditional pergola, stone bridges, a natural pond and the famous sakura cherry tree, the garden was opened in 2003, which was the year of Turkey in Japan and was to be the first of a hundred Istanbul gardens dedicated to the horticultural heritage of Istanbul’s many sister cities.

https://www.istanbul.tr.emb-japan.go.jp/japonbahcesi/bahce.html

Sakip Sabanci Museum The former  home of the Sabanci Family, one of the two richest families of Turkey with their gardens – one of the most important gardens of Istanbul with its 100-year history, with 115 different plant varieties, colored by flowers such as redbud, lavender, and mimosa from the Far East, America, Australia, North Africa and Caucasus regions, including rare plants in Turkey – overlooking the Bosphorus.

https://sakipsabancimuzesi.org/ and https://sakipsabancimuzesi.org/ziyaret/bahce

Dolmabahce Palace. Until the 17th Century this site was one of the coves in Bosporus. In mythology it is the place where Argonauts’ legendary ship “Argo” had anchored in order to find the Golden Pelt, and in history Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror had breached his ships again in this cove to cross over to Golden Horn during the conquest of Istanbul. One of the unique gardens of Bosporus called Dolmabahce (Filled up Garden).  The sultans moved here from Topkapi because it was more comfortable. There is a terrace garden and landing stage beside the Bosphorous. The enclosed back gardens served the harem quarters and the favourite girls (cariyeler). The administrative section of the palace, used by the sultans and then by Ataturk, as a formal garden.

https://www.doaks.org/resources/middle-east-garden-traditions/catalogue/C112

Overnight in Istanbul.

Radisson Blu Pera Hotel

(B, Welcome Lunch)

Blue Mosque whose interior walls are covered with twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles, featuring many different tulip, rose, carnation, and lily designs, magnificent!  It is named for the blue Iznik tile work that decorates its interior and its dome can be seen from all over the Sultanahmet district. It was built by Mehmet Aga, the imperial architect and was very controversial due to its six minarets, which many at that time believed was sacrilegious as it rivaled the architecture of Mecca itself! There is some incredible art and architecture throughout, but keep in mind that it is an active mosque with daily prayer services. When visiting the Blue Mosque, it’s important to dress appropriately with your shoulders and legs covered as it is a religious site.          http://www.sultanahmetcamii.org/

We will walk through the site where the Hippodrome used to be…

Hagia Sophia that has inspired architects and religious leaders for over fifteen hundred years. Constructed in 326 by Constantine the Great, it has been a cathedral, a mosque, and now a museum. Built in the 6^th century, this church influenced architecture for centuries. Its original design was created as a mirror of the heavens. Explore the vast galleries and beautiful mosaics. Given its age, the church is in remarkable condition and the interiors are full of important frescoes and mosaics depicting holy subjects.. It’s considered to be one of the most influential works in architectural history and has a lot of impressive features, including artwork throughout its many spaces.  https://ayasofyacamii.gov.tr/

Then transfer to the Istanbul Airport to have late afternoon flight to Cappadocia.

Overnight in Cappadocia.

Utopia Cave Cappadocia– Standard Room

https://www.utopiacave.com/

(B, D)

In the heart of Anatolia, this whimsical destination is famous for its “fairy chimneys” and the rainbow of hot air balloons that flow overhead.  Please note that if you wish to go ballooning, it will depend on the weather so this cannot be confirmed until we arrive and our guide in conversation with them determines if today or tomorrow…it is also very early to rise…I think around 4:30 am but wow what a thrill and memory it was, truly something you will never forget.  Ride lasts about an hour.  We will then advise cost and you pay them directly to our guide if you wish to go.

After breakfast visit local municipality carpet cooperation, sort of a carpet farm where you will get the chance to explore the district from a cultural perspective.

Goreme Valley. The lunar like landscape of this region is eerie, yet beautiful. Over thousands of years, the rain has eroded this landscape to give rise to strange rock formations known as “Fairy Chimneys”. Many of these have homes and churches carved into them. Some of the grottos are magnificently decorated with colourful frescoes depicting biblical scenes.

Overnight in Cappadocia.

Utopia Cave Cappadocia

(B, D)

After breakfast explore typical Turkish village, Avanos to see the techniques of ceramic art dating from 12th B.C. to 3rd B.C. periods and then we will explore. Avanos, famous for its beautiful old houses, pottery, and onyx.

Then we enjoy a home cooking class followed by lunch.

In the afternoon we will explore one of the underground cities of Cappadocia.

Optional Whirling Dervishes performance? If you’re interested in learning more about Turkey’s rich cultural heritage, you may enjoy this. Historically, the term dervish referred to a specific group within Sufism, an Islamic order. Sufi whirling is a type of active meditation performed as part of a religious ceremony, with participants dressed in flowing robes or gowns, sometimes in bright colors and patterns.  I was amazed at this myself…our guide will advise what night and the price.

Overnight in Cappadocia.

Utopia Cave Cappadocia

(B, L, D)

Transfer to airport for our flight to Izmir. Now this flight could be as long as 4.5 hours.  We will just have to wait until later to see the timing and if possible to do anything, or just go to our hotel and relax….it’s a big day tomorrow!

With over 3500 years of history, the port city known historically as Smyrna offers a variety of archaeological sites, not to mention easy access to ancient Ephesus. CN Traveler labeled this spot as “Turkey’s most overlooked city” and it’s easy to see why. While tourists flock to Istanbul and other coastal hotspots, this treasure is left for the locals. Turkey’s third-largest city, this coastal city has always looked toward Europe. A meeting point of cultures, Izmir offers a unique blend of European and Middle Eastern influences.

Overnight in Izmir

DoubleTree by Hilton Izmir – Alsanack – Guest Room

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/izmiadi-doubletree-izmir-alsancak/

Centrally located in the heart of Izmir, Turkey, the hotel is just a short distance from the old town. Enjoy close proximity to shopping malls, markets and restaurants.

(B, D)

The old stomping grounds of everyone from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra, the ancient city of Ephesus was a key Roman city. It was the capital of Asia Minor, and second only to Rome in terms of population and cultural significance. As one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities along the Mediterranean, this cultural mecca is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Today’s excursion takes us to Ephesus, the largest ancient city ever uncovered.  Once populated with 300,000 people, it has an enormous amphitheatre, which can still hold 24,000 spectators.  As you walk down the marble covered streets, see gymnasiums, bath houses, public latrines, the library of Celsus and the Temple of Artemis.  Ephesus was included by Alexander the Great in his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world today and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In the afternoon explore House of Virgin Mary, where she is believed to have spent her last few days.

Clinging to the side of the Bulbul Mountain, there is a chapel in honor of the place St. John is said to have brought Mary at the end of her life.

Overnight in Izmir

DoubleTree by Hilton Izmir – Alsanack – Guest Room

(B, L, D)

Our destination today is Urla where we will visit a truly beautiful and hidden plantation that has some of the largest collections of plant species in Europe with over 58 varieties of palms, various types of conifers, cacti, aromatic plants, broad leaved trees and olive trees, some of which date back 1,000 years, and taste delicious local olive oil . Klazomenai Ancient City is also home to the oldest (2600 years) olive producing factory…. an area full of ancient olive trees and ancient olive jars.

After tasting local wines having a history dating from  the 4^th Millennium BC. in one of the boutique vineyards West of Turkey, we will head back to our hotel.

Overnight in Izmir

DoubleTree by Hilton Izmir – Alsanack – Guest Room

(B, L, D)

Early morning flight then visits to…

Spend the morning visiting of Underground Basilica Cistern, largest surviving Byzantium Cistern. Cisterns are large underground reservoirs used to collect rainwater, of which there are hundreds beneath Istanbul. The Basilica Cistern is the largest, and you can actually descend into the chambers because it holds very little water today to see some amazing rock carvings and columns. Two of the columns are made of reclaimed blocks that have been carved to resemble Medusa, the snake-haired woman from Greek mythology who could turn anyone who made eye contact with her to stone.

http://yerebatansarnici.com/

Grand Bazaar. The term bazaar refers to a market, specifically a large market space with numerous stalls and vendors.  The Grand Bazaar is the world’s oldest and largest, boasting 61 streets and over 4,000 individual stalls selling spices, sweets, dried fruit, jewelry, and more..  You might recognize the view from the rooftops from James Bond’s iconic chase scene in “Skyfall”.   https://www.kapalicarsi.com.tr/

We will likely have our Farewell Lunch before the Bazaar just in case you might not want to go but instead head back to the hotel.  This will be decided the day of.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Radisson Blu Pera Hotel – Superior View Room

https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-istanbul-pera

(B, Farewell Lunch)

Transfer on your own to Istanbul Airport.  Again, we can arrange a car (120 Euros) if you wish but taxis can be arranged from the hotel.

(B)

After arrival into London please make your way to your hotel. Check in 3 pm and if you arrive earlier they will hold your luggage. Once in your room, unpack that bag and put it away…you won’t need to see it again for 8 nights.

The Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington is a contemporary hotel in prestigious Kensington, located just behind High Street Kensington Metro station. Renowned for its warm hospitality, the hotel offers well-appointed and comfortable guest rooms with an enviable central location in Kensington. The hotel is a short stroll away from Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens including the Princess Diana Memorial Gardens, and also very close to the Science Museum and Natural History Museum. High Street Kensington’s ‘first class’ shops are only a stone throw away from the hotel. At the metro station you will find all kinds of places to eat as well as Marks & Spencer and Boots drugs.

Your standard room includes with one bed for Double and Single or twin beds for those sharing. WiFi is complimentary and so are coffee and tea making facilities. There is also a mini fridge, safe, hairdryer and trouser press.  

https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/london/copthorne-tara-hotel-london-kensington/#home

After breakfast we will leave by coach for our visit to this delightfully plant packed garden. Our guide will highlight the most important aspects as this is a huge property…in a one hour tour, then you are free to wander the gardens on your own.  There is so much to see here including the new Welcome Building.  You can see it here… https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/garden-highlights/welcome-building  I cannot imagine what is waiting for us there!

Wisley was founded by Victorian businessman and RHS member George Ferguson Wilson, who purchased a 60-acre site in 1878. He established the “Oakwood Experimental Garden” on part of the site, where he attempted to “make difficult plants grow successfully”. Wilson died in 1902 and Oakwood was purchased by Sir Thomas Hanbury, the creator of the celebrated garden La Mortola on the Italian Riviera. He gave both sites to the RHS the following year. Wisley is now a large and diverse garden covering 240 acres. In addition to numerous formal and informal decorative gardens, several glasshouses and an extensive arboretum, it includes small scale “model gardens” which are intended to show visitors what they can achieve in their own gardens, and a trials field where new cultivars are assessed.

We should be there at the perfect time for the Rhododendrons and Azaleas and you will have time after the guide leaves us to enjoy the garden on your own and have lunch on your own at their fabulous café with views to the gardens. Be sure to check out the new exotic garden…I love it. The garden will showcase a diverse range of plants, from palms and bananas to vibrant flowers such as dahlias, cannas and gazanias. Providing an alluring contrast from the nearby Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden and Cottage Garden, the oasis will feature more than 100 species originating from tropical areas as far as Brazil and South Africa in an array of bold shapes and textures.

Return back to hotel.

Breakfast included, lunch on own and Our Welcome Dinner – 3 courses with glass of wine

‘In a house, each room can be quite different to the next, both in appearance and purpose.

Each section of a garden can also vary in its appearance and purpose. This is how some of the best landscape designers think of gardens.

Rooms or sections of a garden can be separated by hedges, dense shrubberies, trellis or walls of stone, timber or any other material. The floor of a garden may be covered with gravel, lawn, paving, creepers, low shrubs or even water. The roof is most often the sky; but it could also be the interlocking canopy of large trees or the framework of some other structure such as an arched walk or pergola.

One of the best examples of the outdoor room concept is Hidcote Manor, near Stratford upon Avon in England. Even if you only have a small garden, you can find inspiration in some of Hidcote’s smaller outdoor rooms.

There are 28 distinct garden areas at Hidcote. The series of smaller hedged gardens close to the house are particularly inspiring. Soon after entering Hidcote, most people find themselves at the circle garden. From this point, paths lead in two main directions; one through the Red Borders to the stilt garden, and the other down a series of terraces to the bathing pool garden.’

https://www.acsgarden.com/articles/garden-travel/hidcote-a-garden-with-many-rooms.aspx

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote

Three Generations of Women Gardeners

Perched on the edge of the Cotswold Hills, Kiftsgate Court is a family home and garden that has been loved and cultivated by the same family for over 100 years. Three generations of women gardeners have left their mark, each building on the legacy of the previous owner. When Jack and Heather Muir bought the Grecian-fronted Victorian house in 1919, Heather, without any horticultural training, started to layout the Kiftsgate garden straight away. Instead of a lawn, she planted semi-formal beds of roses and other flowers, a Tapestry Hedge with a mix of beech, yew and plain and variegated holly, and a Rose Border full of unusual varieties. Heather’s horticultural aesthetic favored the Arts & Crafts Movement which emphasized perennials and plants chosen for their adaptability, including drought tolerant cistus, spiky agaves and other Mediterranean style plantings. She was encouraged by her friend and next-door neighbor at Hidcote, Lawrence Johnston, and other notable garden designers including Norah Lindsay and Vita Sackville-West—who planted the enormous and famous Kiftsgate Rose (Rosa filipes) at Sissinghurst. 

Heather’s daughter, Diany Binny continued the family gardening tradition during the 1950s and quickly became an accomplished plants woman. She extended the planting, creating paths and replanting more borders with shrubs and herbaceous plants and re-fashioned the White Sunk Garden with a pool and fountain. Since the late 1980s, her daughter Anne Chambers and her husband Johnny have brought the garden into the 21st century. They introduced plants that flower year-round and are suited to warmer winters. They also created a new Water Garden with a sculpture by Simon Allison, a woodland with plants from the Scilly Isles, an avenue of tulip trees, and an orchard among other features.    http://www.kiftsgate.co.uk/

Return to our hotel

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on own.

Great Dixter is a house in Northiam, East Sussex, England. It was built in 1910–12 by architect Edwin Lutyens, who combined an existing mid-15th century house on the site with a similar structure brought from Benenden, Kent, together with his own additions. It is a Grade I listed building. (In simple terms, if a building is Grade 1 listed it is deemed to be of exceptional interest and may also have been judged to be of significant national importance. Grade 1 listing is usually reserved for much older and historically-important buildings) The garden, widely known for its continuous tradition of sophisticated plantsmanship, is Grade I listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Great Dixter was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd – it was the focus of his energy and enthusiasm and fuelled over 40 years of books and articles. Now under the stewardship of Fergus Garrett and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust, Great Dixter is an historic house, a garden, a center of education, and a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from across the world. As you enter the grounds you are struck at the sight of the house, so perfect in every quirky way and the planting is perfectly suited to the timbered façade. As you walk through the various gardens you are in fact walking around the house as well.  Perfectly placed plants surrounding home, barns and oast houses. There is a café and shop here.

Great Dixter   https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/

Every gardener I think has heard of Vita Sackville-West and now you are in for another exceptional garden as we visit the home of Vita and her husband Harold Nicolson. They lived at Sissinghurst until 1962, the year she passed away and then in 1967 Harold gave Sissinghurst to the National Trust. She was a prolific writer, poet and most of all gardener. Their history as a couple is really quite amazing and many books have been written on it. The tower is where she wrote novels, plays, poetry and gardening books and is still left as though she was just out for a moment checking something in the garden. They had the most extraordinary life and relationships and both wrote many books…it is worth digging deeper. There is a café and shop here.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/9346537/Vita-Sackville-West-her-gardening-legacy.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/11166590/the-many-sides-of-vita-sackville-west.html

https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/garden-designers/31-vita-sackville-west-1892-1962.html

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-16-bk-6473-story.html

Return back to hotel with your evening at leisure.

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on your own.

We will arrive at the gates just prior to them opening and once in you will be able to pick up your show guide which is also included at 1 each for singles and 1 each for Double and start enjoying this most prestigious flower show. I will share some of my tips on enjoying this show on our way back from RHS Wisley so you can arrive prepared.

After you have finished seeing all you want to see – it is open until 8 pm for those diehards – then you can make your own way back to the hotel. This way you are free to enjoy the show for as long as you like.

I would suggest that either tonight or tomorrow night would be the nights to book shows or theatre as the tour days are not advised. We just do not know about traffic and I would hate for you to miss an event that you had planned to go to.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/

Chelsea Flower Show 2022 – Top Garden Trends

https://www.moderngardensmagazine.co.uk/garden/garden-trends/rhs-chelsea-flower-show-trends/

Return back to hotel with your evening at leisure.

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on your own.

In my tour notes to you, sent out about a month before the tour begins, I include lots of ideas on what to do with your day of leisure.

The splendour and history of Windsor Castle is perfectly matched by the beauty and serenity of The Savill Garden, just four miles away. 

The Savill Garden is one of the finest royal gardens within Windsor Great Park. In 1932 Queen Mary gave Sir Eric Savill permission to develop a 35-acre garden in Windsor Great Park. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother showed great interest in the garden, and the Temperate House is dedicated to her. The attractions include the New Zealand Garden, the Queen Elizabeth Temperate House and trees planted by members of the Royal Family. In June 2010, a new contemporary rose garden designed by Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam of Wilson McWilliam Studio was opened by Queen Elizabeth II. Eric Savill was the grandson of Alfred Savill the founder of a large firm of estate agents and was involved in managing Windsor Great Park from 1930 to 1970, being Director of Gardens from 1962 to 1970. He opened the Savill Garden to the public in 1951 and left it as a heritage to the nation. In June 2006, a specially designed new visitor centre, the Savill Building by Glenn Howells Architects was opened. The timber for the floor and roof came from the Windsor Estate.

Return to our hotel

Breakfast included with lunch and dinner on own.

Now you have seen some extraordinary gardens on this tour and it only seems fitting that the last garden we visit should be West Green House Gardens…it is also extraordinary!! In a beautiful corner of North Hampshire, visit a garden of contrast and inspiration, created by acclaimed garden designer Marylyn Abbott. It is a garden with a special and distinctive sense of place created over two decades by Marylyn Abbott a renowned Australian garden designer whose twin passions for English Gardens and International Opera have created a unique environment. West Green House Gardens combines neo-classical style with contemporary design. A grand water staircase provides a focal point to the Nymphaeum Fountain designed by architect Quinlan Terry. The magnificent Walled Garden, faithfully restored to its original lines, is entered through an arbor of wisteria. An alley of apple trees divides an elaborate potager with its berry-filled fruit cages, annual flowers and colourful vegetables from its signature perennial borders exuberantly planted in subtle hues of mauve, plum and blue. There is a lot more to discover here. There is a lovely gift shop here as well.

To finish off our tour we will also enjoy a wonderful Afternoon Tea in the original Orangery, built in the 1770’s. This is a delightful and enchanting setting, filled to the rafters with plants and garden accessories. The perfect spot to chat and say Farewell….I cannot say enough about this garden, it is truly the perfect ending to an incredible variety of gardens that we have been privileged to visit.. To sit here among the flowers and enjoy Afternoon Tea is just well…magical.

Map of the Garden http://westgreenhouse.co.uk/garden/

Website http://westgreenhouse.co.uk/

Return back to hotel with your evening at leisure.

If  your flight is early you can arrange with the hotel to have a grab and go bag ready for you.