The Flowers of Florence

May
2013
06

posted by on Visit Tuscany

 
Iris symbol of Florence

An Iris at the Iris garden in Florence

The beautiful city of Florence is not only known for its incredible architecture and priceless works of art, but also for its flowers! There are many beautiful gardens in Florence, which are simply packed with gorgeous flower varieties, lush fountains and numerous statues. So why not let yourself be dragged away from the hustle and bustle of Florence city life for a while, and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a Florence garden?

Perhaps the most famous gardens in the city are Florence’s Boboli Gardens, which can be found behind the Pitti Palace. You can easily spend a good couple of hours here, wandering around one of the largest and most elegant Italian style gardens in the country. The famous artist Tribolo, who was commissioned by the powerful Medici family, can be accredited for the design of the garden and it took him around 8 years to complete. Among the lush green surroundings you’ll come across fountains, statues and even a stone amphitheatre.

The Bardini Gardens are also worth visiting, and are conveniently located near to the Boboli Gardens. They are often less crowded than the popular Boboli, due to the fact that many people don’t know about them! These gardens are a real treasure, and include not only a magnificent baroque flight of steps, but also provide wonderful views over the city. Florence’s Rosary Garden also provides spectacular city views, along with its impressive array of rose varieties. In this beautiful retreat , which is just a short walk from the city centre, you can explore a world of colour. This garden has been designed in a French style, but it also has an interesting Japanese garden. Bardini is only open for 6 weeks during May and June however.

One of the most well-known botanical gardens in Florence is the ‘Giardino dell’iris’, or Iris garden. It specialises in the cultivation of these flowers, which have been a symbol of Florence since 1251. You can find an amazing variety of irises here, with each one being more beautiful than the last. Located on the corner of Viale dei Colli and Piazzale Michelangelo, this garden has a lovely view of the historical part of the city. The International Iris Show is also held here. Another noteworthy botanical garden is the Giardino dei Semplici. This garden, also designed by Tribolo, has citrus blossoms, medicinal plants, Tuscan spices and wonderful wildflowers from the Apennines. You’ll find a absolute riot of colour here during the springtime. Finally, located in an exceptional position on the hills of Florence, is the Villa Gamberaia. Overlooking the Arno valley, this small but perfectly formed garden was completed in the early 17th century, having been designed in the old Italian style. It has a rather distinctive character and is definitely worth a look.

We have a variety of tours available in Florence, but why not try our new Vasari Corridor and Boboli Gardens tour? It combines a fantastic and exclusive tour of some of the city’s best sights, as well as entrance to the stunning Boboli gardens.

Picture credits: Harl Seldon

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