Botanical Garden of Florence
Visiting itinerary
Map for orienting yourself before the visit
Covering an area of just over two hectares, the Botanical Garden of Florence hosts more than 5,000 specimens, including plants of ancient origin such as the Cycads and centenary trees such as a Yew (Taxus baccata L.) planted by Pier Antonio Micheli, a distinguished botanist and mycologist who lead the Botanical Garden during the 18th century.
To mention just a few, there are specimen typical of both the Mediterranean and tropical areas, exhibit of carnivorous plants and a historical collection of medicinal plants, including some toxic species. Of major interest is the collection of food plants, which includes both wild plants of food interest as well as vegetables grown according to organic-regenerative farming principles. Remarkable in terms of size (approx. 1,700m²) and volume is the complex of large 19th-century greenhouses that follow one another along Via Micheli for a frontage of 162 metres. These are divided into two portions: the Warm Greenhouse, which houses tropical plants with very high temperature and humidity needs, and the Cold Greenhouse, which houses plants with lower temperature needs. Six small greenhouses built in the mid-20th century complete the areas dedicated to indoor cultivation.
In this open-air living museum, every season shows elements of interest and curiosity for the visitor, from the neophyte to the expert.
The botanical year begins in February with the early blossoming of bulbs, cultivated both in pots and in flowerbeds, and then goes on with the explosion of colours and shapes of spring-blooming collections such as azaleas, roses - ancient and modern, climbing and shrubby - and wild orchids. Summer, on the other hand, is the season for hydrangeas, which embellish the central avenue of the Garden, and tropical aquatic plants (water lilies, Nile blue lotus, lotus blossom and Victoria cruziana, just to name only a few ones) that thrive in the outdoor pools, but it is also the right moment when you can admire the vegetable garden and medicinal species, at their best. The warm colours of the falling leaves of more than 150 tree specimen, including deciduous and evergreen species, finally makes fall one of the most fascinating seasons in the Garden.
Botanical collections of both ancient and recent origin, but also bird songs and the buzzing of pollinators, experimental trials and exhibits in a setting that maintains signs and traces of the 16th century: all this, and even much more is the Botanical Garden of Florence, a place of well-being, study and research which really aims to link people and plants.