Monty Don's Adriatic Gardens

Monty explores Venice by barge, stepping into green spaces hidden from view behind high walls. He sees wonderful gardens along the Grand Canal, meeting those who have managed to create a garden on a rubbish dump behind one of the city's famous churches; he samples wine grown in the city limits and visits a public garden with a secret passageway leading to the world famous St Mark's square.

Monty begins in the city of Trieste close to Italy's border with Croatia, then heads through Croatia to pick up the trail that the Venetians followed, ending his journey on the beautiful island of Lopud.

Monty visits a spectacular garden made by an Englishman with Greek connections, and meets with the widow of the English writer Gerald Durrell who takes him up into the mountains on a wildflower trail. From there Monty travels to Athens, where the study of botany first began.