When the city suddenly shows a different side of itself. There are, of course, smaller hidden spots where you can come across beautiful pergolas – I share some of these on Instagram (@wondersoftheworld_italy) – but the real focal point is the garden of Villa Bardini.
The Bardini Garden isn’t a place you just stumble upon. It sits up in the Oltrarno hills, slightly away from the usual tourist routes. Maybe that’s exactly why it managed to remain a bit more hidden for so long. Its history goes back to medieval times, when it belonged to the Mozzi family. The form you see today was later shaped by Stefano Bardini in the early 20th century, who transformed it into a kind of open-air setting where sculptures and architectural elements became part of the landscape. After years of neglect, it was finally reopened in 2005.
When you enter, the glicine isn’t the first thing you see. The space builds slowly: terraces, stairways, views over the city – and then suddenly, the pergola appears.
And this is definitely not just a “small floral corner.” The glicine pergola is nearly 70 meters long and about 4–5 meters wide, running along the hillside in a way that constantly shifts the view over Florence as you walk. When it’s in full bloom – usually between mid-April and early May – it turns into a soft purple tunnel.
What photos don’t capture is the scent and the sense of space. The flowers don’t just look beautiful, they actually surround you. The light filters through them, creating soft, broken shadows, while in the background you can see the city – including the dome of the Florence Cathedral, sometimes only partially visible through the blooms.
And yes, it gets busy. Because of Instagram, it hasn’t been a secret for a long time. But that doesn’t take away from the experience – it just means timing matters more. Early morning feels completely different from midday.
Glicine is also more than just a visual experience. It’s an incredibly long-living plant, often lasting for centuries, and in many cultures it symbolizes connection and friendship. Somehow, it fits perfectly here – because this isn’t a place you rush through.
The garden of Villa Bardini is the kind of place where it makes sense to slow down. Not just to walk through the pergola, but to stop, turn back, or simply look at the city from a slightly different perspective.
And maybe that’s what makes it special: it’s not permanent. If you come at the wrong time, you miss it. But if you arrive at the right moment, you understand exactly why people return to Florence every spring.
Watch it live 🌸
If you don’t want to miss the peak bloom, the Fondazione CR Firenze has set up a live webcam focused on the pergola. It’s an easy way to check when the glicine is at its best – even from home.