Decorative Arts & Gardens of England
(9 Days)
London, Cotswolds
Art Tour of France
(10 Days)
Paris & Versailles, Provence, Cote d’Azur
Art & Design Tour of Berlin
(5 Days)
Berlin & Potsdam
Art & Temples of India
(18 Days)
Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho & Panna National Park, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Mumbai
Culture, Crafts & Cuisine of Ireland
(13 days)
Dublin, Ballyfin, Ballymaloe, Killarney, Adare, Ashford Castle
Italy for Art Lovers
(13 Days)
Rome, Florence & Assisi, Bologna & Ravenna, Venice & Padua, Milan
Contemporary Art & Architecture of Japan
(14 Days)
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Miho Museum, Naoshima, Tokyo
Art, Crafts & Design of Mexico
(9 Days)
Mexico City, Oaxaca
Arts & Crafts of Morocco
(13 Days)
Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Marrakesh
Arts & Crafts of Myanmar
(9 Days)
Yangon & Twante, Bagan & Mount Popa, Mandalay
Design, Architecture & Nature of Norway
(9 Days)
Oslo, Alesund & Atlantic Road, Norangsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Storfjord
Art & Design of Portugal
(8 Days)
Lisbon & Sintra, Porto
Contemporary Art & Design in Seoul & Jeju Island
(8 Days)
Seoul, Jeju Island
Swedish Design Tour
(5 Days)
Stockholm & environs
Art Tour of Switzerland
(6 Days)
Geneva, Basel & Weil am Rhein, Zurich with St. Gallen & Winterthur
Design & Gardens Tour of Sicily
(8 Days)
Palermo & Monreale, Taormina with Noto, Syracuse & Villa Romana del Casale
Decorative Arts & Gardens Tour of Paris
(8 Days)
Paris & environs
Traditional Crafts of Japan
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Kurashiki, Kyoto, Yamanaka Onsen, Kanazawa
Exclusive Japan: Amans, Art & Onsen
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Naoshima, Kyoto, Ise-Shima region
Food, Design & Culture of Copenhagen & Sweden
(12 Days)
Stockholm, Kingdom of Crystal, Wanas, Malmo, Copenhagen
Dutch & Flemish Art Tour
(10 days)
Bruges & Ghent, Brussels & Antwerp, Amsterdam with The Hague, Delft & Kroller-Muller Museum
(8 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Palermo & Monreale, Taormina with Noto, Syracuse & Villa Romana del Casale
This private tour of Sicily features the most interesting gardens and cultural highlights of this fascinating Mediterranean island. Learn how Sicily's unique climate, soil and history have shaped its beautiful landscapes while touring top private and public gardens, as well as olive orchards, citrus groves, farms, vineyards and the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna.
Begin in Palermo. One of Italy's great art and culinary cities, Palermo also has abundant gardens and green spaces. During private touring in the historic center of the city, see the Palermo Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico Palermo), one of the oldest and most important plant research gardens and facilities in the Mediterranean region. Also visit Villa Tasca, an opulent 16th-century mansion surrounded by Romantic gardens, mature trees and citrus groves. One afternoon, enjoy a private tour of the stunning, UNESCO-listed Cathedral of Monreale, which is filled with glittering mosaic masterpieces. Also see the cathedral's ornate cloister and small garden.
Continue to Taormina, a historic clifftop town overlooking the sea. Explore Taormina's Greek theater and beautiful Public Garden, a hillside paradise of exotic plants, lava-rock follies and promenades with views. During leisure time, perhaps browse local boutiques or relax at your hotel, which has spectacular views of the Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna from its terraces and lush private gardens.
One day, enjoy a private excursion to the UNESCO-listed Baroque town of Noto. Enjoy private touring of the atmospheric backstreets, important architectural highlights, and the town's renowned gelato and pastry shops. Also visit Palazzo Castelluccio, a grand 18th-century palace with restored interiors.
Another day, enjoy a private excursion to Mount Etna, an active volcano synonymous with Sicily whose slopes thrive with gardens, vineyards and farms. Tour a private garden where the rich volcanic soil and traditional irrigation system support a vibrant mix of native and exotic plants, local flowers, Mediterranean shrubs, and fruit and nut trees. Also enjoy a lunch that incorporates the best of Sicily's fresh, regional ingredients accompanied by wines made from unique grapes grown on Mount Etna. Alternatively, take a private excursion to see the exquisite Roman mosaic floors adorning the fourth-century Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also visit Caltagirone, a town renowned for ceramics, to browse boutiques and perhaps climb the monumental staircase decorated with hand-painted tiles.
Also enjoy a private excursion to Syracuse, a powerful city in antiquity. Tour the city with an expert private guide and explore highlights such as the Greek theater, Roman amphitheater, the ancient cathedral, the cave known as the Ear of Dionysius, the historic center of the island of Ortygia, charming seaside neighborhoods and elegant architecture. Also tour the renowned Giardino del Biviere private garden with the owner, a botany specialist who transformed the grounds of an ancient feudal estate into a fragrant Mediterranean Eden of succulents, roses, jasmine, citrus trees and palms.
This tour can easily be customized with private garden touring elsewhere in Italy or Europe.
Itinerary Overview |
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Decorative Arts & Gardens of England
(9 Days)
London, Cotswolds
Art Tour of France
(10 Days)
Paris & Versailles, Provence, Cote d’Azur
Art & Design Tour of Berlin
(5 Days)
Berlin & Potsdam
Art & Temples of India
(18 Days)
Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho & Panna National Park, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Mumbai
Culture, Crafts & Cuisine of Ireland
(13 days)
Dublin, Ballyfin, Ballymaloe, Killarney, Adare, Ashford Castle
Italy for Art Lovers
(13 Days)
Rome, Florence & Assisi, Bologna & Ravenna, Venice & Padua, Milan
Contemporary Art & Architecture of Japan
(14 Days)
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Miho Museum, Naoshima, Tokyo
Art, Crafts & Design of Mexico
(9 Days)
Mexico City, Oaxaca
Arts & Crafts of Morocco
(13 Days)
Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Marrakesh
Arts & Crafts of Myanmar
(9 Days)
Yangon & Twante, Bagan & Mount Popa, Mandalay
Design, Architecture & Nature of Norway
(9 Days)
Oslo, Alesund & Atlantic Road, Norangsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Storfjord
Art & Design of Portugal
(8 Days)
Lisbon & Sintra, Porto
Contemporary Art & Design in Seoul & Jeju Island
(8 Days)
Seoul, Jeju Island
Swedish Design Tour
(5 Days)
Stockholm & environs
Art Tour of Switzerland
(6 Days)
Geneva, Basel & Weil am Rhein, Zurich with St. Gallen & Winterthur
Design & Gardens Tour of Sicily
(8 Days)
Palermo & Monreale, Taormina with Noto, Syracuse & Villa Romana del Casale
Decorative Arts & Gardens Tour of Paris
(8 Days)
Paris & environs
Traditional Crafts of Japan
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Kurashiki, Kyoto, Yamanaka Onsen, Kanazawa
Exclusive Japan: Amans, Art & Onsen
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Naoshima, Kyoto, Ise-Shima region
Food, Design & Culture of Copenhagen & Sweden
(12 Days)
Stockholm, Kingdom of Crystal, Wanas, Malmo, Copenhagen
Dutch & Flemish Art Tour
(10 days)
Bruges & Ghent, Brussels & Antwerp, Amsterdam with The Hague, Delft & Kroller-Muller Museum
Our guide in Japan arranged one-on-one conversations with some amazing artisans… lots of credit to Artisans for arranging things so well, understanding our interests and making sure they were communicated to Japan.
~ J.R., Raleigh, NC
The art scene in Mexico City was even better than we could have imagined. Thank you for organizing such a great guide. We never would have been able to experience the city in the same way without him. We really appreciated all of the Artisans of Leisure touches and special connections.
~ L.S., New York, NY
Our recent Vietnam trip was excellent…Thank you for arranging for us to visit the home and studio of the renowned art dealer in Hanoi.
~ A.R., Easton, MD
Recommended by:
Departures
Conde Nast Traveler
The New York Times
Wall Street Journal
Travel + Leisure
Town & Country
The Iconic Reichstag Dome in Berlin, Germany
Highlights of Venice: Art, Architecture, Interiors, Wine, Crafts, History & the Lagoon
Drottningholm Palace: A Favorite Excursion from Stockholm, Sweden
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao: Iconic Art & Architecture in Northern Spain
Sanssouci: Exquisite Interiors & Gardens in Potsdam, Germany
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on the Cote d’Azur in France
The Metropol Parasol: Contemporary Design & Architecture in Seville, Spain
Westminster Abbey in London, England
First Look: The New Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt
Exclusive Visits to the Ricardo do Espirito Santo Silva Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal
Gaudi & More: The Top Architecture Highlights of Barcelona, Spain
Seeing Tadao Ando Architecture in South Korea
Spectacular Architecture, Gardens & Interiors in Lisbon and Sintra, Portugal
Touring the Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris, France
Kelmscott Manor, an Arts & Crafts House in the Cotswolds, England
Just Back: Art, Wine, History & Interiors in Florence, Tuscany & Rome, Italy
A Private Tour of Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) in Porto, Portugal
The Korea Furniture Museum in Seoul, South Korea
Basalt Columns in Iceland: Architecture Inspired by Remarkable Landscapes
Must Visit: Naoshima, Japan’s Art Island
Interiors & Architecture: A Private Tour of Bayt al-Suhaymi in Cairo, Egypt
Architecture and Design Touring in Vienna
Museum Van Loon, a Historic House-Museum and Garden in Amsterdam
Visiting an Ancient Stepwell in Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jeju Island in South Korea: Contemporary Architecture, Tea Plantations, Volcanic Landscapes & More
The Iconic Chapel Bridge in Lucerne
Just Back: French Art, History, Interiors & Fine Dining in Paris & Versailles
Behind-the-Scenes Culinary and Crafts Touring in Japan
Must Experience: James Turrell’s Gathered Sky in Beijing
Ceramics in Japan: Robert Yellin’s Yakimono Gallery in Kyoto
Helsinki: Top 10 Architecture & Design Sites
Luis Barragan: Modern Architecture in Mexico City
Exclusive Tours of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia
Blue-and-white Ceramics and Azulejo Tiles in Portugal
A Conversation with Renowned Art Curator David Elliott
A Private “Sound of Music” Tour in Salzburg, Austria