Located in Florence, more precisely in the Oltrarno quarter, Giardino Bardini is one of the best gardens in Florence. This garden was built during the Renaissance as a part of Villa Bardini and it offers one of the best views of the city. Perfect to escape the frenzy of the city for a while and spend a day in nature, let’s find out something more about the Bardini Gardens and why you should take a walk through them!
Unveiling the rich history of Giardino Bardini
Giardino Bardini is located on top of the Montecuccoli Hill, a land belonging to the Mozzi Family, where they also had built their palace, since the Middle Ages. In 1309 though, after the meltdown of the family, the municipality of Florence became the owner of every palace and land belonging to them, putting every other construction on hold up until 1509, when they managed to get it back. The garden that later became Giardino Bardini actually extends for a larger area than just the one belonging to the Mozzi Family. It also in fact covers the area where villa Manadora, commissioned by Francesco Manadori and designed by Gherardo Silvani, used to be. The land was then transformed into an English Garden in the XIX century by Giacomo Le Blanc, who chose to fill it up with many beautiful statues, fountains and decorated paths. It was then given back to the Mozzi family but they chose not to care for it, leading to the deterioration and damage of the hydraulic system. When the whole family died in 1880, everything was bought by Carolath Benten, remodeling the gardens in a Victorian style, only to be bought again in 1913 by Stefano Bardini. He managed to do some restoration and remodeling work leading to the creation of what is nowadays called Villa Bardini. The land then became the property of his son, Ugo Bardini but he unfortunately died with no heirs. The land was thoroughly restored in 2000 and is now one of the best sites to visit in Florence.
The Enchanting plants and flowers of Giardino Bardini
Giardino Bardini is obviously filled with many different flowers and plants and, because of this, it’s often referred to as the place where it’s always Spring. Wandering through the paths of this garden you may notice some medicinal plants, like lavender or rosemary, and some of the most beloved flowers in the world, such as roses, irises and many more.
Conclusion
Visiting Giardino Bardini is definitely a must if you enjoy taking walks in nature and escaping the frenzy of the city every now and then. If you want to get to know more about Florence and Italy in general, check out our other blogs and consider booking a Florence private tour with us!
