Umbria is a greener, wilder and more rugged version of its larger, more sophisticated neighbour Tuscany. Landlocked and surprisingly little known, it lies in the heart of Italy, with the River Tiber winding through hills covered in chestnut woods, sprinkled with commanding castles and enchanting walled medieval hill towns. The gardens are personal, horticulturally exciting and a touch idiosyncratic. In addition, we visit an enchanting villa near Perugia, have lunch in two castles and explore Etruscan tombs on our way to Rome for the last day when we visit a garden inside the walls of a ruined fortress and one of the finest rose gardens in Italy.

Our base for the five-day tour is the cathedral city of Orvieto, spectacularly and impregnably built on a plug of volcanic rock with sheer cliffs dropping vertically below the city walls.