Gardens of Eastern Sicily

On arrival in Sicily, we transfer to our hotel in Zafferana Etnea. The rest of the day is free to relax and settle in before meeting up with the rest of the group and your specialist tour manager for dinner in the evening. 

After breakfast, we transfer to Taormina for an exclusive visit to Giardini Victoria, a historic private estate with ornamental gardens and beautifully terraced landscapes. On a privately guided tour, we’ll admire Mediterranean planting at its finest, from fragrant flowers and citrus groves to carob, fig, and sculptural prickly pear trees. 

In the afternoon, we continue to Casa Cuseni, an extraordinary house with a rich artistic legacy. Founded in 1947 as one of Europe’s first hotels dedicated to artists, it has welcomed celebrated figures including Tennessee Williams, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Henry Faulkner. A young Ernest Hemingway is also said to have written his first novel here.  

Accompanied by an expert guide, we’ll stroll through the remarkable garden designed by Annie Besant, which combines art, history, and horticulture in a beautifully atmospheric setting. 

Today we visit Radicepura, an RHS partner garden often described as the green heart of the Mediterranean. During our private guided visit, we explore the botanical park and acclaimed Garden Festival area, where contemporary design meets exceptional plant diversity. A gentle stroll takes us across a series of carefully designed terraces, each dedicated to different botanical families. 

Look out for striking collections from the Xanthorrhoeaceae, Asparagaceae, and Liliaceae families, alongside sculptural aloes and dramatic Dasylirion. Highlights include the remarkable Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, native to Australia, and Moringa oleifera, an Asian species celebrated as a ‘superfood of the future’. 

In the afternoon, we tour Catania Botanical Garden, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. Covering approximately 16,000 square metres, it includes an impressive collection of palms, exotic specimens, and Mediterranean flora, all of scientific importance.  

We’ll travel to the foot of Mount Etna today to visit Parco Paternò del Toscano. Here, ancient lava flows have been transformed into a thriving garden, where rare subtropical plants grow alongside the wild beauty of the Mediterranean maquis. 

On a guided tour, we’ll explore this remarkable estate, where time, care, and cultivation have created a unique natural environment. Several of its trees are officially recognised as monumental specimens, reflecting both the garden’s heritage and its careful preservation. The estate is also protected by the Environmental Heritage Authority of the Sicilian Region, recognising its botanical and cultural significance. 

Later, we continue to Villa Trinità, an elegant estate set within a fragrant citrus grove, that has been lovingly preserved by the Bonajuto family over several generations. 

Covering approximately 7.4 acres, the garden reflects the passion and vision of its current owner, Salvatore Bonajuto — an agronomist, landscape architect, and painter. As we wander through this peaceful setting, we’ll see how history, artistry, and horticulture have been brought together with great care. 

This morning we journey to the Syracuse region to visit the remarkable Giardini del Biviere. What was once a harsh landscape of stone and dust, is now a lush botanical oasis created by Princess Maria Carla Borghese and her late husband, Prince Scipione Borghese. 

Thanks to their dedication, the richness of the soil, and the Sicilian sunshine, the garden quickly came to life. In 1988, this remarkable achievement was recognised with a visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother, who had specifically requested to see it. 

Later, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Giardino di San Giuliano. Spanning more than four hectares, the garden began its transformation in the 1970s under the vision of Marquis Giuseppe di San Giuliano, who turned a traditional farmhouse estate into a wonderfully varied landscape, where structure and spontaneity sit in perfect balance. It’s a memorable highlight of our Sicilian garden journey. 

After breakfast, we meet our local guide and set off for Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano. Ascending this dramatic landscape, we pass ancient lava flows and ever-changing terrain shaped by centuries of volcanic activity. A gentle walk rewards us with sweeping views across the rugged slopes, where black lava contrasts with pockets of resilient vegetation. 

In the afternoon, we descend to the fertile lower slopes of the volcano to visit one of the region’s renowned family-run wine estates. Here, volcanic soil and climate combine to produce distinctive, characterful wines. 

During our tasting, we’ll learn about the estate’s sustainable practices, from hand-harvesting grapes to natural pest control, all designed to protect the land. Warm hospitality and expert insight bring the story of Etna’s wines to life, offering a fitting finale to a day shaped by this remarkable landscape. 

For the final full day of our tour, we visit Le Stanze in Fiore, a seven-hectare garden surrounding an elegant 19th-century neoclassical country villa. On a guided tour, we’ll admire beautifully designed gardens inspired by cultures from around the world. Highlights include the simplicity of a minimalist Zen garden, a Chinese garden with eight interconnected ponds set among ancient lava rocks, and a Burmese-inspired garden with its own distinctive character. 

Recognised for its significance, Le Stanze in Fiore was designated a historic garden by the Sicilian Region in 2026 and received third prize in the Grandi Giardini Italiani Awards for excellence in maintenance. 

After our visit, we’ll relax over lunch in these inspiring surroundings. The menu reflects a thoughtful fusion of local and regional Sicilian cuisine, shaped by the owner’s own travel experiences. Later, we return to our hotel, where the rest of the day is free. You may like to unwind in the spa or take a gentle stroll through the charming streets of Zafferana Etnea for a relaxed finale to our Sicilian garden tour. 

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our return flight to London.