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PARKS IN FLORENCE

"BOBOLI"

The BOBOLI GARDENS were not to become famous until they became the property of the Medici family, who called in Niccolò Pericoli, known as Tribolo, to design them; this artist created a masterpiece of "landscape architecture" between 1550 and 1558. The park, which makes part of the Pitti Palace, was planned to occupy a scenographic setting on the slopes of the Boboli hill (covering 320.000 square metres) and also had access from the square. The park was enriched with many Mannerist inventions by Buontalenti (like the Grotta Grande), fountains and statues by Ammannati, Giambologna and Tacca and completed by Giulio and Alfonso Parigi (1631- 1656).The two architects, father and son, carried out the stone Amphitheatre, the unique setting for many celebrated theatrical performances, the cypress alley known as the "Viottolone" and the square and pool of Isolotto. The last additions, like the Coffeehouse (1774-76), the Lawn of the Columns (1776) and the Lemonary (1785), were installed by the Lorriane family. Pietro Leopoldo decided to open the garden to the public in 1776. The design of the Boboli Gardens was used as a basis for all the royal gardens in Europe, including Versailles.

Address: Piazza Pitti, 1
Opening times: Winter: every day (except Monday) from 9,00 to 16,30. Summer: every day (except Monday) from 9,00 to 18,30
Phone(+39): 055 2651816
Web Site: www.firenzemusei.it/00_english/boboli/index.html

 

PARCO DELLE CASCINE

The first nucleus of the Isola Estate, known today as the Parco delle Cascine, was bought by Archduke Alessandro in the mid-1500's. The estate was subsequently expanded by Cosimo I. The park's present name derives from the farms on the estate, which were primarily dedicated to cattle raising (a cascina is a barn).
Since the beginning of the 17th century the park has been dominated by a majestic tree-lined lane, first known as the Stradone dei Pini and subsequently as the Stradone del Re. Under Pietro Leopoldo the park was reorganized, with the addition of gardening facilities and a guardhouse. It was also opened to the public, but only for special events and Ascension Day. It was conceived of as an essentially wild area whose only fixed structure was a hunting lodge built by G. Manetti in 1786, where the Archduke and his family could stay. The following year, in occasion of Archduchess Maria Teresa's wedding, all the old buildings were demolished. In the second half of the 18th century Archduchess Elisa made the park public, thus giving the city a vast green area very different from the gardens within the courtyards of the city's palaces.
The Archduchess also had a new entrance added to the park at Porta al Prato, where the Baluardo del Serpe was breached and a wide road avenue built to the Arno. At the same time, the street that paralleled the river was straightened and paved. In the 19th century the gardens of the Cascine were laid out in a romantic style, and looked very different than they do now. Also, in the course of the 19th century large areas of the park were transformed into sporting facilities, including racetracks.

Opening Times: always open free entrance

GIARDINO DELL'IRIS

The entrance to Florence's Iris Garden is located where Viale dei Colli opens into Piazzale Michelangelo. The garden has more than 2,500 varieties of the flower that has symbolized the city since 1251.

Address: entrance from Piazzale Michelangelo
Phone: (+39)055 483112
Opening time: open from the 2nd of May to 20st of May (Monday-Friday: 10-12,30; 15-19. Week-End: 10-19)

GIARDINO DELLE ROSE

In 1865 the City of Florence asked Giuseppe Poggi, the architect who masterminded the restructuring of the future Capital of the Kingdom of Italy, to turn his attention to the left bank of the Arno. Poggi had the city buy about 2.5 acres of the hillside above Porta San Niccolò (upriver from the Ponte Vecchio) that Rose Garden, Poggi's terraces towards the end of the century. It was May 1895, during the annual Festa di Belle Arti offer a magnificent view of the city. The which is patterned after similar French gardens, was planted on opened to the public in delle Arti e dei Fiori organized by the Society and the Italian Horticultural Society.

Address: viale Giuseppe Poggi 2
Phone: (+39)055 2625305
Opening time: suggested visit in May

List of Historical gardens open to the public in Florence and its province:

Botanical Gardens
Address: Via P. A. Micheli, 3
Phone: (+39)055 2757402
Web Site: www.horti.unimore.it/cd/Firenze/obfi_home.html

The Garden of Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Address: Via Cavour, 1
Phone: (+39)055 276.01
Opening times: from 9,00 to 13,00 and from 15,00 to 18,00 - Sunday from 9,00 to 13,00 - (Closed Wednesday)

Giardino dell'Orticultura
Address: Via Bolognese, 17
Phone: (+39)055.483698
Opening times: from 8,00 to 20,00
Web Site: http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/ist/luogo/giardinoorticultura.html

The Garden at Villa della Petraia
Address: Villa della Petraia, 40 - Località Castello
Phone: (+39)055 425691
Web Site: www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/petraia/Default.asp

The Garden al Villa di Castello
Address: Via di Castello, località – Castello
Phone: (+39)055 454791
Opening times: Every day (except Monday), from 9,00 to 16,30
Web Site: www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/villacastello/Default.asp