Finally, the long-awaited good weather has arrived, and I felt it was time to step out of the house to enjoy the fresh air and marvel at the blooming flowers!
Florence is truly a green oasis. Parks, gardens, and green spaces are scattered throughout the city, offering peace and beauty to nature lovers. June is especially magical in the city, when the scent of blooming linden trees fills the streets and squares of Florence with their sweet, honeyed fragrance, turning every walk into an unforgettable experience.
In the historic center, numerous smaller and larger gardens are tucked away, many hidden from tourists’ eyes, protected by inner courtyards and old walls. The most famous garden is undoubtedly the Boboli Gardens, but Florence has much more to offer: many equally special green oases can be discovered during a single trip.
Boboli Gardens – The Renaissance Garden
If you want to see a real Italian formal garden, one of the country’s best-preserved treasures, don’t miss the Boboli Gardens! This vast 45,000-square-meter garden is located in the heart of Florence and served as the private garden of the Palazzo Pitti residents for centuries, from the Medici family to the House of Savoy.
The garden itself is an open-air museum: alongside statues, grottos, monumental basins, and ancient and modern artworks, it also houses a rich botanical collection. Admission is charged, unless you are a resident of Florence, in which case entry is free.
Villa Bardini – English Garden and Panoramic Views
Less well-known than Boboli but just as enchanting is the garden of Villa Bardini, designed in the style of a 19th-century English garden. In 2020, this garden served as the venue for a Dolce & Gabbana fashion show, bringing it into the global spotlight.
From the Belvedere terrace, you can enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Florence, drink in hand, during spring and summer. In spring, cascading wisteria blooms cover the garden’s arches in vibrant purple, creating a stunning sight.
Tulip Park – A Spring Explosion of Color in Florence
There’s a garden in Florence that, every spring, evokes the colorful flower seas of the Netherlands. Tulip Park, created as part of the landscape architecture project Wander and Pick, is a unique gem among Florence’s green offerings.
In spring 2025, 300,000 tulip bulbs bloomed (compared to 200,000 the year before), and organizers promise to double the number of tulips by 2026. New colors and flower forms will also be added, including daffodils.
Tulip Park is special not only for its visuals but because it allows you to walk through a little Dutch dream in the heart of a Renaissance city. You can breathe in the fresh floral scents and immerse yourself in nature’s dazzling colors.
Giardino dei Semplici – Florence’s Historic Botanical Garden
Few places in Florence preserve history, science, and natural beauty as beautifully as the Giardino dei Semplici, the city’s botanical garden. It was founded on December 1, 1545, by Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, who purchased the land from Dominican nuns.
The garden was originally intended for cultivating medicinal herbs – hence its name “Semplici,” or “simples,” the term used for healing plants at the time. Its layout was designed by Niccolò Tribolo, who also created several other Medici gardens, such as the famous garden in Castello.
Over the centuries, the Giardino dei Semplici became a living encyclopedia where notable botanists – including Luca Ghini and Pier Antonio Micheli – conducted their work. It was maintained by the Florentine Botanical Society and later by the Accademia dei Georgofili until it officially became the Botanical Garden of the Higher Education Institute in 1880.
Today, the garden spans 2.39 hectares and houses more than 5,000 plant species. In its greenhouses, you’ll find rare plants, orchids, tillandsias, ferns, and an impressive azalea collection that draws crowds when in bloom.
Particularly noteworthy are the centuries-old trees: for example, a yew planted by Micheli around 1720, or a cork oak from 1805 that has never been pruned. Rare species also grow here, such as Metasequoia glyptostroboides, once thought extinct until rediscovered in China in 1941.
The Giardino dei Semplici is not just a home to plants – it’s where past and present meet. It reveals a new face in every season and is especially enchanting in spring when plants come alive and the garden bursts with colorful blossoms.
Florence Rose Garden – The Scents of May and June
The Rose Garden is one of the most romantic spots in the city and shows its most beautiful face in May and June when more than 1,000 varieties bloom simultaneously, filling the air with their delicate fragrance. Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon’s dreamlike sculptures, which evoke themes of travel and freedom, can also be admired in the garden.
Iris Garden – Europe’s Only Botanical Garden Dedicated to Irises
A few steps from the Rose Garden, you’ll find Europe’s only garden dedicated to iris flowers, showcasing over 1,500 iris species. This unique garden is only open from April to May, so it’s worth planning your visit accordingly.
Giardino dell’Orticultura – The Dragon Garden
On the northern edge of the historic center, near Porta San Gallo, lies the Giardino dell’Orticultura, or as locals call it, the Dragon Garden. This park features unique monuments, hosts events, and even has a large dragon sculpture that fascinates children.
Pratolino Park – With the Giant of the Apennines
Along Via Bolognese, just outside Florence, is the vast Pratolino Park, protected by UNESCO since 2013. The park’s main attraction is the Giant of the Apennines, a 14-meter-tall statue created by Giambologna.
This is not just any statue – it’s a true marvel with caves and waterfalls inside, almost bringing it to life. When I visited, I was truly amazed at how art and nature are so seamlessly intertwined, radiating the enchantment of a Renaissance masterpiece.
Cascine Park – The Green Lung of Florence
Stretching along the Arno River, Cascine Park is the largest public park in the city. Purchased by the Medici family in 1531 as a hunting ground, it is now a popular spot for locals to relax, exercise, and picnic.
Florence is much more than art and history: the entire city is a vast green oasis, each season offering its own special charm. I recommend everyone explore these parks – you’ll feel the magic of nature and history come alive. No matter when you travel to Florence, don’t miss out on discovering these green gems – they will recharge and enchant you!