Renaissance-era Italy has provided a plethora of marvels for modern travelers to explore. Too often overshadowed by paintings and sculptures held in museums, are Italy’s gorgeous gardens. These extravagant, breath-taking and innovative works of art revolutionized European garden design and which and still inspire present-day garden designers and guests. Today Italy’s remarkable gardens boast contemporary masterpieces as diverse as they are beautiful. During our time together in this seminar, we will take an adventure through a medley of glamorous public gardens in four distinct regions of Italy.
Beginning from Rome and Campagna, we’ll stop by the hidden Vatican Gardens and Palazzo del Quirinale. Then we’ll proceed ahead to the spectacular Villa d’Este at Tivoli, the bizarre Bomarzo, the sublime Villa Lante, and the romantic Garden of Ninfa.
From there we set out for Florence and Environs, to experience the grandiose Boboli Gardens and the privately-owned Villa Torrigiani. We’ll also dive into the Medici villas at Castello, Petraia and Fiesole, the elegant Villa Gamberaia, and the private Fattoria di Celle with its world-renowned collection of site-specific sculpture.
We’ll conclude our journey with a stopover and Venice and travels through the lakes on Lombardy. We’ll discover the extravaganza of Isola Bella and Villa Taranto on Lake Maggiore, and Villas Carlotta, Cicogna Mozzoni and Melzi on Lake Como. Our conversation will also spotlight the Palazzo Malipiero, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Fondazione Querini Stampalia and the Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore in Venice
Led by an expert on gardens and garden history, Dr. Toby Musgrave, this interactive seminar will showcase and celebrate a selection of Italy’s great and inspiring gardens. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with increased knowledge and understanding of Italy’s great and diverse, and inspiring botanical history.
This seminar is a part of Context Learning’s ongoing series featuring International Gardens. For more details, please click here. $36.50. Register at www.contextlearning.com
