Florence Gardens to Visit in May

 

With the coming of spring, another side of Florence is revealed. The city’s stone buildings, churches and Renaissance facades are suddenly framed by wisteria, roses, irises and fresh green hillsides. A city known for its art and architecture offers historic gardens, panoramic terraces and floral sanctuaries in the warmer months. These peaceful urban oases, newly in bloom, are a perfect space to wander, linger and soak in the sun. 

Rose Garden

Located just below Piazzale Michelangelo, the Rose Garden is a hillside sanctuary that bursts into colour each spring. Overlooking the historic centre, the garden offers some of the best views of Florence, especially at sunset, when the city’s buildings glow in a beautiful golden-orange light. 

The garden was created in 1865 by Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi, the same year the Italian capital was moved from Turin to Florence. 

Home to a collection of more than 400 varieties of roses, as well as tillandsias and lemon trees, the garden is filled with colour and fragrance from April to June. There is also a Japanese inspired area, donated to Florence by its twin city of Kyoto in 1998. 

Sculptures by Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon are dotted throughout the garden’s grounds, giving a feel of an open-air exhibition. 

The garden is free to enter every day from 9 am to 8 pm. 

Iris Garden

The symbol of Florence is the iris, and the city celebrates it with the seasonal Iris Garden found near Piazzale Michelangelo. Until May 20, the secluded area comes alive with white, pale blue and violet flowers, creating one of the city’s most charming spring displays. Admission is free.

Opened in 1954, the garden was created to honour the city’s emblem and today contains over 1,500 varieties of the flower. 

Each May, the garden hosts the annual competition run by the Italian Iris Society. Growers from across the world submit new varieties of the iris, which are judged for their colour, form and fragrance. The winning blooms are honoured within the garden’s permanent collection. 

Camellia Garden

Tucked away within the Boboli Gardens, the Camellia Garden is one of Florence’s lesser-known spring treasures. 

The area was originally used as a private connecting garden between the apartments of Prince Mattias de’ Medici and the Boboli Gardens. It was only redesigned as a more decorative garden with fountains, benches, pathways and flowers in 1688. Towards the end of the 18th century camellias became fashionable, and the space was thus transformed into a haven for the plant, which originates from China. 

Today the garden is home to a historic collection of camellias, which can be seen by the public from now until the 10th May, only on Saturdays and Sundays. Their elegant blooms in white, pink and crimson add colour and vibrancy to this secluded corner. Access to the garden is included with a standard Boboli Gardens ticket, which is free on Sunday May 3. 

Bardini Garden

Often overlooked by visitors in favour of the Boboli Gardens, the Bardini Garden is the less-crowded and more tranquil alternative. Combining terraces, a historic villa, and sweeping views across Florence’s rooftops, the Bardini Garden is one of the finest panoramic viewpoints in the city. 

The garden is at its finest in spring, when its renowned wisteria pergola is draped in lilac and violet flowers. Elsewhere, rose beds, irises, hydrangeas and orchard blossoms add further colour to the gardens, while their floral scents fill the air throughout April and May. 

A historic villa lies at the heart of the estate, adding grandeur to the garden. Built in 1641 by architect Gherardo Silvani, the villa belonged to several notable Florentine families before being purchased by antiques dealer Stefano Bardini in 1913. Today, the villa is owned by the state and is often home to art exhibitions, as well as its original elegant interiors. 

Tickets can be purchased at the Bardini Garden entrance or online through the Uffizi Gallery website.  Open daily, except on the first and last Monday of each month, spring is the perfect time to see garden at their most enchanting.  Importantly, like the Boboli Gardens, the Bardini Garden is also free on Sunday May 3. 

Horticulture Garden Spring Flower Market

Florence welcomes back its popular Spring Market Plant and Flower Exhibition at the Garden of Horticulture. Organised by the Tuscan Society of Horticulture, the annual events runs from April 25 to 3rd May 3, opening daily from 9 am to 7.30 pm. 

The Garden of Horticulture is a historic green space created in 1859 by the Tuscan Society of Horticulture, to promote gardening and plant cultivation in Tuscany. Its most celebrated landmark is the large glass tepidarium, designed by architect Giacomo Roster, where events and exhibitions have been held ever since. 

Located just outside the city walls, the peaceful garden will be filled with stalls of rare plants, flowers, fruit trees and specialist horticultural goods, offering visitors the chance to browse specialist plants and outdoor décor. If you want to redesign your terrace, or simply enjoy a sunny day surrounded by colourful plants, the exhibition is worth a visit.

Alongside the exhibition, a cultural programme of free events will run throughout the nine days, including workshops, talks, guided walks, and botanical activities for children. The final day’s activity on 3rd May include a Q&A on flowering plants and vegetable gardens at 11.30 am, and a children’s beekeeping workshop at 3.30 pm. (Aniela Cabut)