There is so much to see and do in the city of Florence that no one holiday could possibly allow you to do it all. Of course, if you book a luxury villa in Florence and you are exploring the city, trying to see as much as possible is a fair goal but we also recommend taking moments to stop, breathe, and really appreciate the beauty of this magical city.
One great way to do this is to momentarily step away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the endless things to see and do by visiting one of Florence’s stunning parks or gardens. There are, in fact, lots of gorgeous outdoor spaces to enjoy, spaces once made by the city’s nobility as pleasure gardens or set aside by the city for the peace and rest of the locals or created by great gardeners who wanted to share their passion.
The Giardino Dell’Iris, or Iris Garden, in Florence falls in to the latter two categories, in fact. Owned and run by the Società italiana dell'Iris to promote the iris, it was made possible by the help of the city of Florence in finding two acres over which this stunning space could bloom. Now, when the flowers have emerged, the garden is open to the public for free each year between the 2nd and the 20th of May.
Located just east of the Piazzale Michelangelo, on the corner of Viale dei Colli, the garden also happens to boast a panoramic view over the city of Florence and her skyline, meaning that it is one of the best places to take in the birthplace of the Renaissance as well as a treat for garden-lovers.
Especially meaningful as the iris is one of the symbols of the city, it is no wonder that the Società italiana dell'Iris chose Florence as the place in which the garden should be established. In fact, the white iris on a red background was chosen as an emblem for Florence by the Ghibellines faction, who ruled the city until 1266, showing just how long the history of this iconography goes back. Since then, the colours were inverted by the Guelphs, the leaders who took over after the Ghibellines were expelled from Florence in the Middle Ages.
The annual international competition for the cultivation of different varieties of the iris that inspired the establishment of the garden back in the 1950s still takes place each year. Competitors send their best examples to Florence to be cultivated for three years before being evaluated by the judges, with the winner being gifted a gold Florin, which is a historic Florentine coin from the time of the Ghibellines and Guelphs and another symbol of the city. An on-going effort continues to try and cultivate a scarlet iris like the one now on the coat of arms of the city as it does not actually exist naturally.
With this long history of entries and the continued efforts, it should be no surprise that there are over 10 thousand hybrid varieties or irises spread out across the park, with examples from everywhere from Japan to America and beyond, and an endless variety of shades and shapes. Even if you didn’t think yourself overly interested in irises, it is an extraordinary sight to behold.
So, once you find a vacation rental in Florence, be sure to come and visit the garden, take in the views over the city, and then just simply marvel at it all – you’re in beautiful Florence!
