The skyline of Florence is one of the most beautiful in the world as it has remained relatively untouched by time and is dominated by distinctive and stunning buildings such as the Duomo. Thankfully, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence, you will quickly discover that there are lots of buildings, outdoor spaces, and viewing points from which to enjoy incredible sweeping views over the city and the skyline. There are several gardens, most of which were once the private outdoor spaces of the nobility of Florence, in particular, that boast exceptional panoramas over the city from the Rose Garden of Florence to the Boboli Gardens. However, one of the best views of all over Florence, and one of the most scenic settings from which to take it all in, is boasted by the Giardino Bardini, or Bardini Garden.
Only opened to the public in recent years, the gardens of the Villa Bardini are located atop the hilly part of Oltrarno and look down over Florence, affording incredible views over most of the city. However, in addition to offering great panoramas of the city and framing them beautiful with trees and flowers, the garden itself is quite the looker. One of the loveliest gardens in all of Italy, it is well worth a wander.
Only opened to the public in recent years, the gardens of the Villa Bardini are located atop the hilly part of Oltrarno and look down over Florence, affording incredible views over most of the city. However, in addition to offering great panoramas of the city and framing them beautiful with trees and flowers, the garden itself is quite the looker. One of the loveliest gardens in all of Italy, it is well worth a wander.
Originally the hillside was home to an orchard belonging to the Mozzi family and there are records going back to at least 1259 that note the presence of a garden on the land. Despite losing their lands and then regaining in them in the 1500s, the Mozzi family managed to remain in possession of this property until the family actually died out in 1880. During the time that they owned it, the gardens gradually evolved from Medieval orchards with largely only utilitarian purposes to becoming more and more like pleasure gardens, with the addition of flowers, statues, and other decorative elements. They also bought adjoining lands and extended the garden. Then, with the death of the Mozzi family, the villa and gardens were bought by Carolath Benten and the grounds took on Victorian stylistic traits. Eventually, the namesake of the gardens, Stefano Bardini, came into possession of the land and villa and made it into what it is today: an eccentric mix of styles but beautiful nonetheless. Bardini left the gardens to his son who then left them to the city of Florence in turn but, unfortunately, they were left to become overgrown and remained untouched for many years. Then, in 2000, a massive restoration project was undertaken to revive them and the gardens were finally reopened to the public a few years later.
Composed of three separate areas, each created in a different time period, this charmingly eccentric 4 hectare garden is home to: a grand Baroque staircase constructed in the 17th century at its centre, an Anglo-Chinese garden created in the 19th century to one side of the staircase, and an agricultural park to the other side, which is one of the oldest parts of the garden. Dotted throughout the gardens are lots of statues and fountains, mosaics, azaleas, viburnums, camellias, roses, irises, and 60 varieties of hydrangea, a large collection of ancient Tuscan fruit-trees (including pears, plums, peaches, and cherries), an iconic and truly stunning Wisteria Tunnel (in bloom during April and May), a Kaffeehaus, and a restaurant.
If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are looking for something a little off the beaten path and under the radar, something yet to be discovered by the vast majority of tourists visiting Florence, a place to wander peacefully, soak up nature, and take in amazing views over the city, then this is a must! One of the most beautiful gardens in all of Tuscany, it is a wonderful hidden gem.
Composed of three separate areas, each created in a different time period, this charmingly eccentric 4 hectare garden is home to: a grand Baroque staircase constructed in the 17th century at its centre, an Anglo-Chinese garden created in the 19th century to one side of the staircase, and an agricultural park to the other side, which is one of the oldest parts of the garden. Dotted throughout the gardens are lots of statues and fountains, mosaics, azaleas, viburnums, camellias, roses, irises, and 60 varieties of hydrangea, a large collection of ancient Tuscan fruit-trees (including pears, plums, peaches, and cherries), an iconic and truly stunning Wisteria Tunnel (in bloom during April and May), a Kaffeehaus, and a restaurant.
If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are looking for something a little off the beaten path and under the radar, something yet to be discovered by the vast majority of tourists visiting Florence, a place to wander peacefully, soak up nature, and take in amazing views over the city, then this is a must! One of the most beautiful gardens in all of Tuscany, it is a wonderful hidden gem.
