The Gardenist and Travelling Masterclasses is pleased to present ‘Mainland Italy 2026’, meticulously curated by Michael McCoy with assistance from several of the region’s emerging designers.

In Italy, past and present dwell alongside one another with unselfconscious ease. This is perhaps nowhere more evident than in the rapidly broadening range of Italy’s incredible gardens. 

Great discoveries of the past about the life-giving potential of water at extreme play, or of forced perspective, are as profound today as when first explored by rich and scholarly Cardinals over five hundred years ago. What they kicked off was centuries of learning, of observing, and of cultural evolution, and what is emerging right now is as surprising and engaging as any of the great moments of horticultural history. 

Join us to capture this moment, live!

“I’ve toured mainland Italy more than anywhere else in continental Europe, and can’t get enough of its history, culture and emerging horticulture. Nowhere else do past and present mingle with such ease. I can’t wait to share these experiences with you on this remarkable tour.”

Michael McCoy

'Mainland Italy' promises to be an unmissable and unforgettable gardening experience. Michael will be leading the tour from start to finish, with help from some of Italy’s emerging designers and practitioners. 
 

Tour Features include:

• A visit to Ninfa, often described as the most romantic garden in the world

• A tour of Dan Pearson’s design at Torrecchia Vecchia

• Visits to Villa Lante & Sacro Bosco, two captivating but highly contrasting 16th Century gardens

• Exploration of the magic old town of Perugia

• A long lunch beneath the wisteria-laden pergola of Vocabolo Moscatelli

• A tour of Villa Oliveto, the work of emerging designer Francesco Pascucci

• Three nights in charming Florence 

• Visits to the celebrated Villa Medici and Villa Corsini

• Lunch at the beautiful Castello del Trebbio

• A stop at Villa Gamberaia, described as the perfect Italian villa

• Experience Giardino Giusti, a staple of the Grand Tour in the 17th and 18th Century

• A guided tour of Verona

• See the temporary show-planting by a designer of international repute in the old town square of Bergamo, installed for the annual ‘Masters of Landscaping’ Conference

• A guided tour of Italy’s largest perennial nursery, Valfredda, by owner Mauro Crescini

• A ferry on Lake Maggiore to visit the floating jewels of Isola Madre and Isola Bella

• A chartered boat trip on Lake Como, visiting Bellagio, Villa Melzi and Villa Balbianello

• and much, much more…