Sanremo. Villa Ormond

Bordighera. Giardino esotico Pallanca

La Mortola. Giardini Hanbury

Let us take you on an extraordinary journey to discover the sweetest smelling flowers and rarest plants, the inexhaustible fonts for the greatest artists of every age.

Not just another holiday, more an obligatory voyage of discovery for those who love the perfume of the most beautiful roses, the colours of the most elegant orchids, the majesty of the rarest palms and the silvery-greens of the most ancient olives.

A unique opportunity to bring together on to one palette all the most beautiful colours of the Riviera: from the splendid Gardens of the French Riviera, to the fascination of the nature of Liguria through to the “City of Flowers” par excellence, San Remo.

Therefore, we invite you to spend a genuinely original holiday with us, which alternates discovering the most beautiful glimpses of our coastline and the revelation of an authentic gallery of natural art, botanical gardens of Liguria. We must not neglect the opportunity to visit the aromatic growing plants and the ornamental flowers which are a pillar of the local economy.

For your pleasure, the most exciting journey to enjoy amongst the most beautiful and colourful flowers of the Italian Riviera of Flowers and the Cote d’Azur. A background provided by marvelously suggestive locales: whilst your path will lead you to the discovery of a veritable treasure casket, by which you will be long amazed.

1st Day

Arrival in late afternoon in Sanremo where you will check in to your hotel of three or four stars. Dinner in the hotel restaurant.

After dinner why not try your luck in the gaming rooms of the historic Casinò Municipale.

Overnight stay.

2nd Day: San Remo, the City of the Flowers

San Remo and Bordighera are the pearls of the Flowers Riviera: blessed with splendid villas and gardens, as well as two exceptional botanical gardens.

After breakfast, your tour will spring to life with a visit to the magnificent botanical gardens of the Villa Ormond, which is located in the east of the city and is to be found in it’s own park. The villa was built by the local Sanremese family Rambaldi, before becoming the property of the Parisian Ormond family in 1887. The recently reconstructed parkland is in the late 19th century French style. The plants to be found in the gardens are from every corner of the globe: from the Canaries to Japan, from Tasmania to China and from California to Brazil.

There are numerous local restaurants where you will be able to taste many of the local delicacies which will transform your meal into a veritable feast.

In the afternoon you will transfer to Bordighera: immediately preceding the Punta Migliarese tunnel you will find a steep, rocky slope. This slope, which climbs to a peak framed by the sea, has terraces and pathways covered in magnificent plants. This is the Pallanca exotic garden, a spectacular naturalistic monument created by the descendants of Bartolomeo Pallanca. There are 3200 species of plants, amongst which is the cacti collection-the most important in Italy and, amongst the most important in the whole of Europe. The oldest plant to be found here, a “Copiapoa”, which originates on the steep slopes of the Chilean Andes, is 300 years old.

Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

3rd Day: The Great Botanists of the Riviera

A day dedicated to the discovery of the intense panoramas to be found on the hinterland of the Riviera and the marvelous exoticness of the largest botanic garden in Europe.

After breakfast you travel to Dolceacqua in the Valle Nervia. From here you will set out for the locations which are the roots of the Doria’s, the “Dogi” of the Maritime Republic of Genoa, known in Italy as “The Proud”. The excursion winds it’s way through Dolceacqua, Isolabona, Apricale and Perinaldo where you will discover a strong and exuberant environment, a land of olives, of vineyards and of fascinating medieval villages which have managed to conserve and protect their ancient traditions.

Then, you travel to Isolabona where at lunchtime you will feast on a rich selection of local delicacies in the ancient oil press: olive pate, sundried tomatoes, olives in oil and fresh cheese all together on the table alongside the most prestigious local wines Vermentino and Ormeasco. The Valle Nervia is also home to the most prestigious jewel in the local wine crown, Rossese. This superb ruby red varietal is produced in Dolceacqua.

In the afternoon your journey will take you to the Hanbury Gardens which are to be found in La Mortola. This is an exotic paradise of 18 hectares which was created in 1867 by Sir Thomas Hanbury. Here Hanbury transplanted species from all over the world, the veritable “fruits” of his innumerable journeys. In every season this garden revels in the splendour of it’s avenues, pergolas, hothouses, terraces and wells.

Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

4th Day: The Gardens of the French Riviera

Visit the “City of the Lemon”, between the greens of the gardens and the smell of the citrus.

After breakfast departure for Menton and a visit to the Val Rahmeh garden. This garden was created in 1905 by Lord Radcliffe and today it is also the site of the observatory on the Mediterranean of the national museum of France of natural history. It also contains an exceptional collection of exotic plants.

Afterwards you will be able to visit the enchanting Serre de la Madone. Completed between 1919 and 1939 by Major Lawrence Johnston, the garden of the Sera de la Madone contains an exceptional botanical collection. As well as the exceptional botany, the Sera de la Madone contains noteworthy architectural landscape features such as small lakes and fountains which create a calm and sheltered atmosphere.

At the end of the visit departure for your home destination.