Monty Don’s Adriatic Gardens, Episode 1: Venice

AHA Productions for BBC2, January 2022

Written and presented by Monty Don

Available to watch on BBC iPlayer

Accompanying book: Venetian Gardens by Monty Don and Derry Moore

Production team: Gaetano Ghiura, Isabella Soames, Jemma Gershinson, Raffaella Matrone

Online Editor: Doris Sajko

Production Executive: Gail Morrison

Commissioning Editor for BBC: Patrick McMahon

Editor: Helen Walker

Edit Producer: Joanna Bartholomew

Director of Photography: Mike Robinson

Series Editor: Alexandra Henderson

Monty travels to Europe and explores the influence of the Venetians on gardening, starting in their home city at the top of the Adriatic coast and travelling on through Croatia and Greece. Visiting a range of public and private gardens, Monty learns about the impact that history, climate change and culture have had on the people who live there. 

To begin with, he explores Venice on one of the city's famous barges, stepping out to visit green spaces large and small that are often hidden from view behind high walls. He is invited in to see wonderful gardens along the Grand Canal, as well as meeting those who have managed to create a productive garden on a disused rubbish dump behind one of the city’s famous churches. He then samples wine grown in vineyards inside the city limits before visiting a restored public garden with a secret passageway that leads to St Mark’s Square.

Archive:
Alamy
Bridgeman Images
Fortuny Inc.
Pond5
Reuters

With thanks:
The Venice Film Commission
Fondazione Giorgio Cini
Giardini Reali di Venezia

Image courtesy: BBC and BBC iPlayer

Aerial Photography: FTO Remotefly

Assistant Camera: Enrico Stocco

Sound Recordist: Kevin Granahan

Graphics: Tomorrow Is Closed

Original Music: Ty Unwin

Colourist: Matt Eversfield

VO Engineer: Toby Campen

Dubbing Mixer: Steve Crook

Fixer: Pieter Jurriaanse

Location Coordinators: Laura Venturini, Sue Ellen Pavin

Consultants: Bianca Arrivabene, Mariagrazia Dammicco, Garrett Moore