The Giardino Bardini, or Bardini Garden, is a Renaissance garden in Florence which has only been opened to the public in the past few years. Less well-known than other Renaissance gardens in the city such as the Giardini di Boboli, it is still a bit of a well-kept secret devoid of crazy crowds of tourists. Though relatively small it is a rich gem with beautiful canals, fountains, flowers and sculptures dotting the whole garden. It also has exceptional views over the city. If you're looking to spend a few pleasant hours strolling the gardens with a loved one or lost in your thoughts and the peace and quiet, this is just the place for you. Find a luxury villa in Florence and you could grab lunch and then lazily walk off the meal in one of the prettiest parts of the city.
Enter the Giardino Bardini via Via de' Bardi, across the road from the Bardini Museum in the Oltrarno district of Florence, and you'll immediately feel as though you've stepped into a different world. It is named after its last private owner, Stefano Bardini, an Italian art dealer and collector.
He used his considerable wealth to establish a rich art collection which was donated, along with the palace that housed it and a villa to which the Giardino Bardini is attached, to the city of Florence upon his death. The garden was then restored in recent years thanks to financial support from a local bank and was opened for visits in 2005.
He used his considerable wealth to establish a rich art collection which was donated, along with the palace that housed it and a villa to which the Giardino Bardini is attached, to the city of Florence upon his death. The garden was then restored in recent years thanks to financial support from a local bank and was opened for visits in 2005.
Made up of 4 hectares of parkland perched on a hill which faces the Arno from the south, the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio and Santa Croce are all visible in the distance. Originally, it was just an arrangement of walled orchards. In the eighteenth century a long fountain wall was added and, in the mid-nineteenth century, the baroque garden was enlarged through the purchase of the adjoining Anglo-Chinese garden of Villa Manadora. In 1913, it was purchased by Bardini. Sadly, he disrupted the garden, adding a road so cars could move from the villa to the Arno and destroyed the Medieval walled gardens. The architecture of Giardino Bardini is mixed, resembling an Italian garden with baroque elements on one side, and an English garden on the other.
The agricultural park features Tuscan fruit trees and a tunnel of wisteria. The most picturesque part of the garden is probably the baroque stairs with the view and fountains, Bourbon roses and remontant irises. In the English-style wood, there is a lawn with azeleas, ferns, vibernums, camellias and citrus fruits.
Opening times change throughout the year so check online before visiting. There is a fee to enter (€10 for adults, €5 concession) but this will also grant you entrance into the Boboli Garden, Museo degli Argenti and Costume e Porcellane and entrance is free the first Sunday of each month. Be sure to stop by on your next trip to Florence!
The agricultural park features Tuscan fruit trees and a tunnel of wisteria. The most picturesque part of the garden is probably the baroque stairs with the view and fountains, Bourbon roses and remontant irises. In the English-style wood, there is a lawn with azeleas, ferns, vibernums, camellias and citrus fruits.
Opening times change throughout the year so check online before visiting. There is a fee to enter (€10 for adults, €5 concession) but this will also grant you entrance into the Boboli Garden, Museo degli Argenti and Costume e Porcellane and entrance is free the first Sunday of each month. Be sure to stop by on your next trip to Florence!
Photo credits
picture 1: Samuli Lintula / CC BY 2.5;
picture 2: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Matteo Vinattieri / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Samuli Lintula / CC BY 2.5;
picture 2: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Matteo Vinattieri / CC BY-SA 3.0
