The Gardenist and Travelling Masterclasses is pleased to present 'Sicily and Sardinia 2024’, meticulously curated by Michael McCoy with assistance from several of the region’s celebrated designers. 

Some of the most innovative gardening and garden design is emerging in extremely challenging climates. The gardens of Sicily and Sardinia have always embraced and celebrated their climate, but a new appreciation for designed plant communities is fuelling further development. What is evolving is a source of huge inspiration to gardeners and designers in Australia and other Mediterranean zones.

We’ve got so much to learn but so much also to simply enjoy, from a culture that has always lapped up its sunshine, and harvested its many benefits.  

“It is far and away the best tour I have ever been on - of any type. Michael must be congratulated for his leadership and generosity in ensuring the great success of the trip. I also want to thank all my new friends for their company and sharing!”

Jacquie Chirgwin | 2019 Tour Participant

“There are moments in our lives that we recognise as being so special that we don’t want them to end. The past two weeks have been just that. We have been enriched by all that this masterclass has brought - the superlative organisation, a range of beautiful gardens, challenging discussions with passionate gardeners and the generous sharing of information and experience by all the group. Congratulations to Michael for a masterwork of a masterclass.”

Su Laird | 2019 Tour Participant

Tour Features include:

• An experience ‘botanising’ on the slopes of Mount Etna

• a tour of private gardens by designers Marco Scano and Mauizio Usai

• visits to the extraordinary Piante Faro nursery, with implausibly old trees in stock, and the nearby site of the Radicepura Garden Festival featuring cloud-pruned olives over 600 years old.

• a walking tour through the archeological wonders of Taormina

• visits to both traditional gardens and cutting edge designs on the glorious east coast of Sicily

• a walking tour of ancient Ortigia

• internal flights from Sicily to Sardinia

• visits to the wild and dramatic north west coast of Sardinia, with its inspiring plant communities

• exploration of the beautiful Sardinian towns of Alghero and Olbia

“I’m so looking forward to sharing this incredible experience with you - an experience of cultures borne of sunshine, and the food, wine and gardens that it fuels. It will fire your imagination with the creative possibilities of poor soils and minimal irrigation - proof that less really can be more.”

Michael McCoy