Botanica
In the Footsteps of Monty Don – Italy, Croatia & Adriatic Coast Cruise
Rome to Dubrovnik
Trip Highlights
Tour the Gardens of Italy
Visit Italy’s gardens, many of them featured by Monty Don. Admire Villa d’Este, featuring fountains, terraces and statues.
Tuscan Tranquillity
Admire the formal Italian garden of La Foce estate. Explore Montepulciano, known for the wine which shares its name.
Private Charter of Lady Eleganza
Cruise the Adriatic Coast aboard the intimate ship, Lady Eleganza. This private charter is reserved for a maximum of 36 guests.
Trip Inclusions
- Escorted by an expert Botanical Guide, Tour Manager and Cruise Director
- Privately chartered eight-night cruise aboard MV Lady Eleganza, with a maximum of 36 guests, and eight nights’ accommodation in centrally located four- to five-star hotels
- Return private transfers from door to door, tipping and porterage, port taxes, plus 39 meals and select beverages
- All sightseeing, shore excursions and entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Visit spectacular Italian Gardens as seen on Monty Don’s series, including Villa D’Este, Villa Lante, Villa Gamberaia and Villa Barbarigo
- Marvel at Miramare Castle Park, set on the Adriatic Coast
- Learn about the gardens and history of the Venetians
- Visit Krka National Park and the pristine islands of Croatia, including Hvar, Korčula, Mljet, Lokrum and Lopud
Map & Itinerary
Trip Notes
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Fitness Rating: Medium
- Exclusive charter of the MV Lady Eleganza for up to 36 guests. To view deck plans, visit www.botanica.travel/cruise-fleet
- Our experience of gardens, their flora, and other aspects of nature, is subject to weather conditions and seasonality, which may vary
- * The Lopud Franciscan Monastery is subject to confirmation
Rome (Italy)
Arrive in Rome today and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening and meet your fellow travellers
Stay: Two Nights: Rome, Rose Garden Palace or similar
Daily :Vatican Gardens and Villa D’Este
Today, visit the Vatican Gardens, an impressive, well-landscaped garden spread over 57 acres. The gardens have been used by successive popes as a place for prayer and relaxation since their inception. Afterwards, travel to the exquisite garden of Villa d’Este, elaborately ornamented with its impressive fountains, nymphs, grottoes, terraces and statues.
Daily :Villa Lante, La Foce and Montepulciano
Today, we travel to see Villa Lante within the village of Bagnaia. The extravagant grounds feature cascades, fountains and dripping grottoes. Afterwards, visit the estate of La Foce, in Tuscany. The grounds reflect the creativity and dedication of the estate’s founder, the British writer and historian Iris Origo. Marvel at the Wisteria walkway and the impressive formal Italian garden before arriving in nearby Montepulciano. The beautiful medieval town boasts striking views of the countryside below and is well-known for the wine which shares its name.
Stay: Overnight: Tuscany, Hotel Castel Monastero or similar
Daily :Montepulciano Tour and Tasting, Florence
Explore the medieval town of Montepulciano further today, first stopping in at a winery, before we pay a visit to a cheese farm known for its pecorino cheese. Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch experience before travelling to Florence this afternoon.
Stay: Two Nights: Florence, Villa Olmi or similar
Daily :Florence City Tour, Boboli Gardens and Villa Gamberaia
Today, we explore Florence during a city tour, which includes visits to the Accademia Gallery, the Duomo and the Florence Baptistry. Next, we visit Boboli Gardens. Originally designed for the Medici, it represents one of the first and most important examples of the Italian garden, and later served as inspiration for many European courts. Finish the day at Villa Gamberaia, a historic villa built in the early 1600s, known for its magnificent gardens overlooking the Arno Valley.
Daily :Bologna City Tour, Villa Barbarigo and Venice
Depart Florence today, as we make our way further north to Bologna. On arrival, enjoy a short tour of the city, including visits to the Piazza Maggiore, the Basilica of San Petronio, and the leaning towers of Bologna. Continue to Villa Barbarigo Gardens, a 17th-century garden located in the Veneto region of Italy. It is renowned for its water features, statues, and grottoes, which are arranged in a series of terraces that overlook the River Brenta. It is considered one of the finest examples of Italian garden design and was featured on Monty Don’s recent Adriatic Gardens series. Later today, we arrive at our hotel in Venice.
Stay: Two Nights: Venice, Hotel M Gallery or similar
Daily :Venice Sightseeing and Giardini Reali
Enjoy a walking tour of Venice this morning and discover many of the city’s beautiful gardens featured by Monty Don, including Giardini Reali, the former royal gardens of Venice.
Daily :Miramare Castle Park, Trieste, Opatija (Croatia) and Embark Lady Eleganza
Following the coastline of the Gulf of Trieste, we arrive at the stately white castle of Miramare, a stunning example of 19th-century Italian architecture. The castle’s lofty position overlooking the Adriatic Sea provides breathtaking views of the coast and the surrounding mountains. The 54-acre park surrounding Miramare Castle was curated by Emperor Maximilian himself and features rare and precious tree species he found during his expedition aboard the vessel, Novara. This afternoon, we cross the border into Croatia, arriving in the seaside town of Opatija. Here, we board the Lady Eleganza, our home for the next eight nights.
Stay: Eight Nights: Lady Eleganza
Daily :Opatija to Pag and Olive Groves of Lun
Cruise along the Adriatic coast from Opatija to Pag today. Here, we disembark for a tour of the Olive Groves of Lun. These olive trees were featured on Monty Don’s Adriatic Gardens and are the oldest olive trees in the world, dating back approximately 2,000 years.
Daily :Zadar City and Walking Tour
This afternoon, arrive in the city of Zadar. During a walking tour, we see the Sea Organ architectural sound-art piece; the Greeting to the Sun monument; and the Church and Monastery of St. Mary, where we see its permanent exhibition of religious art. The Benedictine nuns who lived here kept Zadar’s most precious relics safe for centuries. At this exhibition, you will see artefacts from the seventh to the 18th century. Visit the People’s Square, Zadar’s centre of urban life, as well as the Land Gate, once the main entrance to the city.
Daily :Šibenik Garden Visit and Krka National Park
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean. Arrive in Šibenik this afternoon for a visit to a local Mediterranean garden. From here, we set out for the sublime Krka National Park, famous for its waterfalls, including the spectacular multi-tiered Skradinski Buk falls. The park also has a wide variety of flora and fauna, with more than 800 species of plant life.
Daily :Hvar Lavender and Walking Tour
Today, our vessel brings us to the island of Hvar. Visit the island’s lavender fields to learn about lavender culture and the oil production process from the creators of the best lavender essential oil in the world. Afterwards, explore the Old Town, with an opportunity to dine in one of its many restaurants this evening.
Korčula Walking Tour, Mljet National Park and Great Lake
Arrive on the nearby island of Korčula, reportedly the birthplace of Marco Polo. The island possesses medieval streets, elegant squares and its fair share of palaces. Another brief cruise delivers us to the island of Mljet, almost all of which is still draped in ancient Adriatic forest. Visit Mljet National Park and see the Great Lake and the Monastery of St Mary situated on a central islet. We moor overnight in Mljet.
Trsteno Arboretum, Metković and Neretva Valley
Returning to the mainland, we make our way to Trsteno Arboretum, the 15th-century Renaissance summer residence of the Gučetić-Gozze family. The garden here has been continually cultivated since that time, right up to the present day. We then travel to the historic town of Metković, a former Roman trading post, for lunch. Afterwards, board a wooden boat for a guided tour along the Delta River to Neretva. The Neretva Valley, once a swamp, is now one of Croatia’s important agricultural regions. The principal crop here is the Neretva tangerine, also known as the neretvanska mandarina.
Daily :Lokrum Botanical Garden and Dubrovnik Sightseeing
Arrive on the small island of Lokrum today and visit its botanical garden. The garden has around 800 species of plants, many of them collected from around the world, to research their ability to adapt to Lokrum’s climate. This afternoon, arrive in Dubrovnik and enjoy a guided walk across this astonishing city. The many historic and cultural treasures here have earnt it the status of a World Heritage-listed site. See the Rector’s Palace, the Romanesque-Gothic Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, and the Sponza Palace.
Daily :Disembark Lady Eleganza, Lopud Island and Monastery
Disembark the Lady Eleganza in Dubrovnik and travel by ferry across to Lopud Island. The island is free of cars, so we explore on foot. Visit the Lopud Franciscan Monastery*, which dates back to 1483. The buildings and garden here have undergone a 20-year restoration. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner back in Dubrovnik this evening.
Stay: Overnight: Dubrovnik, Hilton Dubrovnik or similar
Daily :Dubrovnik
Your tour concludes after breakfast this morning. Transfer to Dubrovnik Airport for your onward flight.
Daily :Price & Availability
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May 2025 - May 2025
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Deck Plan
Would not hesitate to recommend Botanica and we are already looking into our next adventure.
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