First place in the ranking for the Bardini Garden. Its colors, its location and the magnificent view over the city make it an extraordinary garden! Named after its owner - the antique dealer Stefano Bardini - at the beginning of the 20th century, it is located in Via de'Bardi 1 / R, in the southern part of Florence and it stretches from the panoramic Michelangelo Square to the Arno river. Built on the gentle slope of the hill, it will surprise you with a breathtaking view of Florence! Just climb the magnificent Baroque staircase and the city will be at your feet! In April don't miss the charming wisteria tunnel on the upper part of the garden!
Commissioned by the Medici family in the 16th century, it inspired many other European gardens, including those of Versailles! Statues, fountains and grottos make this place a real open-air museum where it is easy to imagine members of the Medici family strolling and lounging in the shade of its holm oaks and looking at the city from the little Cavaliere garden planted with peonies and roses ... Put on comfortable shoes and walk through the 45 hectares (111 acres) of the garden and don’t miss the famous and magical Buontalenti’s Grotto, a masterpiece of creativity!
It is located under Michelangelo Square and was built in 1865 by Giuseppe Poggi, who also designed the square above it. Relax on one of the benches or on the lawn of this garden, perhaps with a good book and a magnificent view of Florence! You can admire 400 varieties of roses as well as a small Japanese garden and see the sculptures of the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon which since 2011, have enriched this truly bucolic place!
It was created in 1954 to organize an annual competition for the best variety of iris, a competition that still takes place every year. The Florentines love this garden particularly as the iris is the symbol of Florence, so it will be busy with locals during its short opening, usually from April 25 to May 20. It is really extraordinary to walk among hundreds of colorful irises admiring so many different varieties! A curiosity: a special prize is awarded to the red variety that most closely resembles the iris found in the city's coat of arms!
It certainly deserves the fifth place in the ranking of the most beautiful gardens in Florence, hidden in the very center of the city as it is. Torrigiani Garden is a romantic style garden and very rich in references to the world of Freemasonry, to which the Marquis Pietro Torrigiani belonged. It is also a sort of botanical garden as it is particularly rich in tree species, including ginkgos biloba, redwoods, Lebanon cedars and plane trees of exceptional size. Be sure to visit the 22-meter-high tower, which, in a neo-Gothic style, evokes the family crest and whose terrace was used to observe the sky.
Discover these charming places with my guided tour of the gardens of Florence. Take a break from the crowds of the museums and relax with a pleasant stroll through the city’s green areas. During your visit, you will discover not only the history of these wonderful gardens, but also that of the personalities and important families who strolled in there as well as interesting anecdotes related to plants and flowers to admire! Contact me for more information on availability and cost!