Free Entry to the Bardini Gardens & Villa

The view from the top of the Bardini Garden

Strolling through beautiful gardens on a Sunday- that’s what a rest day is ideal for. Now, residents of Florence, Arezzo and Grosseto will be able to make use of a Sunday or any other day off work, the right way. As from December 1, the Bardini Gardens’ gates are open to them for free every day of the week.

The board of directors of the Bardini Gardens Foundation have decided to make a waive admission for locals in attempt to bring people closer to the beauty of the city in which they live.

The gardens, comprising the villa are located on top of a hill and offer one of Florence’s best and prettiest views, particularly of Santa Croce.

The villa was constructed in 1641 thanks to architect Gherardo Silvani and has passed through many persons’ hands over the years, initially belonging to Francesco Manadori. The mansion named at the time ‘Villa Mandora,’ remained in Manadori’s hands until the 19th century. Around this period, the Mozzi family, wealthy bankers and owners of the neighbouring Mozzi Palace, acquired it.

The last owner was antiques dealer Stefano Bardini who bought the building in 1913, from which the gardens and villa now take their name. Many years later, the State bought back the villa (1987), and was taken over by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze (bank foundation) in 1998. With the foundation in charge, the villa and gardens were opened to the public, (the house since 2007 and gardens since 2005).

The gardens, expanding four hectares in size, are rich with orchards, rose beds, iris flowers, hydrangeas and run alongside part of Florence’s medieval wall.  Encompassed are English-style woods, baroque staircases and rural gardens decorated with around 200 statues, stone pots and vases. Fountains and headstones can also be found, now restored to their original appearance.

With the nearby grand Boboli Gardens, the Bardini easily goes unnoticed, yet now with the opportunity of visiting these homely gardens for free, citizens now are able to spend a quiet, relaxed day rediscovering Florentine heritage. (karen gee)

(Opening times – Villa: 10 am – 7 pm, Garden: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm).