Gardens of Corfu

5 days | £2950 per person with flights | 7 - 11 October 24

New Ionian Prospects

Since antiquity, from Homer’s Odyssey until the Durrell family’s stay on the island in the early 20th century, writers and poets, artists and gardeners, statesmen and royalty have all been bewitched by the magical beauty of Corfu. In the mountainous north-east, where rainfall is highest, the island’s lush vegetation, wildflower meadows and silver olive groves punctuated by cypresses framing stunning views over the Ionian Sea towards Albania and the Greek mainland have drawn an international crowd of gardeners and designers. Nothing new here: over the centuries British, French, Venetian and Greek influences in architecture, agriculture and gardening are clear to see. This tour is focused on the work of a new wave of contemporary garden designers sensitive to Mediterranean style, choosing to use many native plants as well as those adapted to tolerate the hotter, dry summers. We will see English born, Jennifer Gay’s work at Rou and Kassiopia as well as a chance to visit the Rothschild Estate where a host of designers have taken a part in creating a magical haven. For superb comfort and accessibility to the best gardens the island has to offer, we have chosen the five-star Hotel Rodostamo, on the eastern side of the island, in the Kommeno area overlooking the cosmopolitan marina of Gouvia and its beautiful bay.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Depart London Heathrow on British Airways flight BA0654, at 11:10 arriving 16:30 at Ioannis Kapodistrais (CFU), Corfu Airport. We then travel together by coach the short journey from the airport along the coast to Hotel Rodostamo, with a warm welcome and with time to settle before dining together in the hotel restaurant.

Day 2

Rachel Weaving’s book ‘The Gardens of Corfu’, has done much to promote the magic of Corfiot gardens. We are invited by Rachel to view her own small, terraced garden at Villa Zetouna on the lower slopes of Mount Pantokrator, the highest mountain on the island. with views across the infinity pool to the wild mountains of Albania. Following the labyrinthine mountain lanes we discover Lemon Tree House, where the garden flows in and around the simple, elegant interiors and abundant drifts of perennial colour distract the eye from the dramatic scenery. Next, we drop down to sea-level where we have lunch at the Kassiopia Estate overlooking the Corfu Straits. Here, two contrasting gardens have been created: one wild and open to the elements; the other south facing and sheltered; both utilising a strong palette of native species, reflecting a deep understanding of the Mediterranean flora. Having explored the garden with the owner, we return to Hotel Rodostamo before dining together in the hotel restaurant.

Day 3

We travel along the coast to the village of Nisaki to visit a private garden, redesigned in recent years for its new owners by Thomas Doxiadis. We continue along the coast to have lunch by the sea at San Stefano, a delightful fishing village, just a short step away from our next garden. Here, we have a special invitation to The Rothschild Estate comprised of the two beautiful peninsulas of Strongilo & Kanonas. Nurtured by three generations of the family, the design skilfully embraces the wild landscape with more intense planting in courtyards, potager and around the beautiful pools. The infinity pool in a former quarry was designed by Spanish architect, Xavier Barba and is edged with tightly clipped rosemary. We then return to Hotel Rodostamo before dining together in the hotel restaurant.

Day 4

Start the day with a leisurely walking tour of Corfu Town (Kerkyra) to include the Old Fortress, St Spyridon Church and a chance to taste some local specialties. We are then invited to a Corfiot summer lunch at Rou, a previously deserted mountain village before it was discovered by architect Dom Skinner who with the help of Jennifer Gay has transformed it into an exquisite garden. The sensitively restored buildings are now let as holiday homes. We return to our hotel where we dine together.

Day 5

After a leisurely breakfast, we visit two more private gardens of exceptional beauty, with lunch included, in this privileged region of the island. We return to Corfu Airport to check in for departure on BA, arriving at London Heathrow

Hotel Rodostamo

With Flights: £2950

Join Direct: £2800

Single Supp: £350

Departure Dates:

7 to 11 Oct 2024

Duration:

4 nights / 5 days

Your Holiday Includes:

• Four nights at the Hotel Rodostamo with all breakfasts plus evening meals with local wines included, and three lunches as stated in the itinerary. 

Tour Lecturers

Kirsty Fergusson

Kirsty exchanged a career in academia (she has a PhD specialising in French philosopher-novelists) for a life in gardening. Trained at Capel Manor, she was head gardener at Mapperton in Dorset during the early nineties, where a series of fortunate encounters opened the door to garden writing. As well as writing a weekly column for The Express, for many years she was a frequent contributor to Gardens Illustrated, House and Garden, Country Life, The Times, The Telegraph and The Independent. In 2003 she moved to SW France, where she continues to explore the possibilities of her own (very forgiving) garden - when not travelling, writing or leading tours.

Sophie Piebenga

Born in The Netherlands and based in the Cotswolds, our expert Sophie Piebenga has lived most of her life in the UK. Trained with the National Trust and qualified at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, all whilst working as head gardener of a private estate, Sophie quickly developed a particular interest in the conservation of historic gardens. This eventually led to a doctoral study at the University of York, researching the work of the early Victorian landscape gardener, William Sawrey Gilpin. Sophie has since worked freelance, mostly in the field of historic landscape conservation, and, for the last 25 years, has regularly led Boxwood tours around the UK and to Ireland, France, Spain and The Netherlands.

Hotel Resort: Hotel Rodostamo

Board Basis: Bed & Breakfast

The price does not include extras at the hotels or travel insurance. The tour starts at London Heathrow Monday 2nd May: airline recommended check-in at 09:10 for the 11:10 departure of British Airways flight BA0654. 

Please contact the Boxwood office if you wish to obtain a quotation to upgrade to Club Class. 

Those wishing to make their own travel arrangements should state this on the booking form and deduct £161 per person from the tour price. 

Please note that Boxwood Tours use hotels of character featuring a variety of rooms & styles.