22 Mag 12 parks in Florence and Province that are worth a visit
Those who visit Florence certainly choose this city to visit its museums and churches. Very often if the trips are long the tourist also chooses to go to places outside the historic center. I recently gave you some examples with the Charterhouse or the Stibbert Museum. With the arrival of beautiful spring and summer days, however, what better reason to take a nice walk and visit a historic garden or park? In fact, the city's villas are not only home to green lawns but present real open-air museums. with fountains and monuments from different eras. In short, places where you can enjoy a moment of relaxation but at the same time discover the history of the city, a bit like I showed you in the article I wrote about the Medici Villa of Poggio a Caiano (which you can read by clicking HERE). Examples of these beautiful historical parks in Florence may be the garden of the Medici Villa of Castello or the garden of the Medici Villa of Petraia or even the garden of Villa Peyron.
So here we are after describing the 7 gardens to visit in the historic center of Florence (article you can find HERE) today I present you 12 parks and gardens in Florence in its suburbs and province. As always after the description of each of them I will write you all the useful visiting information and how to get there from the historical center of Florence.
Parks in Florence divided by suburb and province
Outskirts of Florence
1) Garden of Horticulture
2) Stibbert Museum Park
3) Bobolino Garden
4) Garden Villa medicea della Petraia
5) Villa medicea di Castello garden
6) Villa Gamberaia Garden
7) Pazzagli Park
8) Villa the Fan Park
Province of Florence
9) Villa Peyron garden
10) Garden Villa I Tatti
11) Medici Park of Pratolino
12) Garden Villa Poggio Torselli
Outskirts of Florence
Horticulture Garden
Located on Via Bolognese, just outside the historic center, this garden in Florence began in the mid-19th century with the intention of combining a passion for gardening and art. You can see this from the huge iron and glass greenhouse that housed and still hosts exhibitions of both flowers and more. During the summer period all kinds of events such as concerts, plays, etc. are also often organized.. In addition to being able to admire many colorful flowers and the beautiful Renaissance-style loggia, the Horticulture Garden has a special feature. In the highest area, also called the Parnassus Gardens, you will find a huge fountain in the shape of a dragon that runs along the entire staircase. From here you can enjoy a spectacular view of Florence and the Duomo. The best in my opinion!
The Horticultural Garden is open daily and is free to enter. From the center of Florence you can get there by taking bus number 7 to the Libertà stop. From there it's a 3-minute walk to your destination.
Stibbert Museum Park
It is located next to the Villa Stibbert Museum (museum I mentioned in this article) about 30 minutes by bus from the center of Florence. This beautiful park in Florence used to be a simple garden until Giuseppe Poggi carried out a renovation project in 1859. The exterior was transformed into a romantic English-style park enlivened by temples, grottoes, and water features. When you walk inside you will be amazed by the Hellenistic temple inspired by classicism and especially the fantastic neo-Egyptian temple on the lake. All this of course surrounded by trees of all kinds and hedges.
The Stibbert Museum Park has free access and is open from April to October from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm while from November to March from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. To get there, there are several options: either take the T1 tramway towards Careggi and get off at the Stazione Statuto stop and then take a 15-minute walk or take bus number 7 and get off at the Strozzi stop and then walk for 15 minutes.
Bobolino Garden
The Bobolino Garden is one of the parks in Firenze public located on Viale Machiavelli near Porta Romana and not far from the city's historic center. It was created by architect Giuseppe Poggi between 1865 and 1877 as part of his plan for the expansion of Florence as capital city. It is divided into three zones where you will encounter grassy slopes, steps, gravel plazas furnished with water tanks and artificial caves. Also beautiful is the huge, centuries-old incense cedar.
The Bobolino Garden has free access even with animals and is always open. To get there from the historic center of Florence you can take bus number 11 and get off at the Imperiale Farinata Uberti stop and then take a 5-minute walk or take bus number 12 and get off at the Machiavelli Micgele di Lando stop and you'll be right there.
Garden of the Medici Villa of the Petraia
The Garden of the Medici Villa La Petraia is located in the small hamlet of Castello on the outskirts with Florence. The villa owned by Cosimo I from the first half of the 16th century stands with its tower in a dominant position on the slopes of Monte Morello and was transformed by Ferdinando de' Medici into a princely residence. The biggest changes, however, were made in the garden, changes that are still visible today. The space is divided into three zones where you will meet and admire orchards, flower beds, trees and various citrus fruits. Behind the garden and the villa you will also find the Petraia Park, which in any case is worth a walk.
The Garden of the Medici Villa of Petraia has free admission but the hours are different depending on what season you want to go. I'll leave you HERE the link with all the times to better organize your visit. To get there from the city center of Florence you can take a train and get off at the Firenze Castello station and then continue on foot or take the T1 E streetcar and get off at the Morgagni - Università stop and then take bus number 28 to get off at the Volpaia stop and continue on foot for 5 minutes.
Garden of the Medici Villa of Castello
The Garden of the Medici Villa of Castello is located in the hilly area of Castello in Florence and a short distance from the Medici Villa of Petraia. The Villa di Castello is one of the oldest suburban residences of the Medici Family, who owned it since 1477. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, today it is home to the Accademia della Crusca. Its garden is the prototype of the sixteenth-century Italian garden in which you can admire the wonderful fountain of Hercules and Antaeus, the extraordinary grotto of the animals or the deluge, the Vasari's tank-cistern and many sculptures. Besides all this many trees (holm oaks, oaks and cypresses), plants, various citrus fruits and herbs. Worth mentioning is the presence of the rare Goa jasmine called "Mugherino."
The garden of the Villa Medicea di Castello has free admission, but as for opening hours and days, I suggest you consult HERE the website and call the number. To get there from Florence you can consult the same directions I wrote for the Villa della Petraia garden.
Garden of Villa Gamberaia
Villa Gamberaia is located in the village of Settignano in the hills of Florence about 15 minutes' drive from the historic center. It belonged to the Benedictine nuns of San Martino since the 15th century and changed hands for several years until it was purchased by the Capponi family in 1718. It was they who defined the villa and its wonderful garden as we see it today. The latter is set at a higher level than the building, which will give you a beautiful view of the Arno Valley. Inside the garden you will find a grove of holm oaks, an orange grove, a long lawn with labyrinthine hedges, a grotto with a pool, and much more.
The Villa Gamberaia Garden is open on weekdays from 09:00 to 19:00 (last entry at 18:00) and on Sundays from 09:00 to 18:00. There is an entrance fee of €25.00. However, for more information I will leave you HERE the page of the villa with contact information. To get there from the historic center of Florence you have to first take bus number 11 towards Salviatino and get off at the Conti stop and then take bus number 10 and get off at the Settignano stop. From here you will have to walk 800 meters to get to the villa.
Pazzagli Park
Pazzagli Art Park is located in Rovezzano in the southern part of Florence. Its area is about 23900 square meters inside which you will find more than 200 works of art, most of which are by the artist Enzo Pazzagli. All of these works are equipped with night lighting system, which makes them always visible and very impressive when the sun goes down. In addition to this in this particular park in Florence there are as many as 300 cypress trees that create a living sculpture in that, when viewed from above, they form three faces. For families, the foundation that runs the park organizes various activities, events and workshops, and then there is also a children's play area.
Pazzagli Park is open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admission is charged. The cost of the ticket is 13.00€. For more information I leave you HERE the official page where you can also check out the Events section. To get to this particular park in Florence you will just have to take bus number 14 from the historic censtro and get off at the Sant'Andrea a Rovezzano stop.
Park of Villa Il Ventaglio
Villa Il Ventaglio is located in the Le Cure area of Florence about 30 minutes away from the historic center. The building was originally a simple rest house for pilgrims until it was purchased in 1824 by Count Giuseppe Archinto. He commissioned architect Giuseppe Poggi to renovate and expand the property. Thus, everything that was accomplished you will still find today. A marvelous English-style park stretching up the hill for about five hectares. Within this beautiful park in Florence you can admire a romantic pond with a small island and a small bridge, many varieties of roses, a maze of hedges and many trees of different species. The most beautiful thing, however, is the variety of views and vistas you will encounter towards the city of Florence.
Villa Il Ventaglio Park has free access and is open on the 1st and 2nd Monday of the month and Tuesday through Sunday with different seasonal hours. Animals, entering by bicycle or other means and consuming food are prohibited. For more information I leave you HERE the page with everything written down. To get to what is one of the most beautiful parks in Florence you can take bus number 7 and get off at the Volta Ferraris stop or bus number 11 and get off at the Marconi Carnesecchi stop.
Province of Florence
Garden of Villa Peyron
Villa Peyron is located in Fiesole and is one of the most beautiful residences in the Florentine hills, and its park is unique because it is cared for and managed directly by its founder Paolo Peyron. The villa and the garden, surrounded by a large park (among the most beautiful parks in Florence and its province), overlook the city with a spectacular view toward its monuments and rooftops and the Florentine landscape. The garden is divided into three terraces sloping toward Florence where only the first one dates from the time of its 20th-century transformation by Angelo Peyron. Within this marvelous garden in Florence you will find many fine ornamental statues, numerous fountains, a vast pond, and many green boxwood hedges. The characteristic feature of the Peyron Garden is that it is located in the middle of a lush forest from which flows a spring of water that feeds the fountains. All of this together creates a wonderful park (I repeat one of the most beautiful parks in Florence and province) where you can take long walks.
The Peyron Garden can be visited by reservation only, for more information I will leave you HERE the page with contact information. The park is always open and has free access. To get there from the historic center of Florence you can first take bus number 7 and get off at the Fiesole Piazza Mino stop and then bus number 47 and get off at the Rio Torto stop.
Garden of Villa I Tatti
Villa I Tatti is located in Fiesole and is one of the best preserved historic mansions of the early 20th century. It was the private residence of American art critic and historian Bernard Berenson until his death in 1959 when the mansion was donated, along with the entire property, to Harvard University. The mansion has a wonderful roof garden desired by Berenson and designed by Cecil Pinsent. From the terrace of the mansion building starts a staircase with boxwood-bordered flower beds that leads to the magnificent terraced gardens. Inside you will find geometrically arranged flower beds, two pools with water lilies, tall cypress hedges, obelisks, ornamental statues, a grove of holm oaks, and many cypresses.
The garden of Villa I Tatti can be visited together with the villa in a complete tour. Modalities and schedules are provided on the official page that I leave HERE. To get there from the historical center of Florence I suggest you take bus number 1 or number 7 and get off at Don Punzoni stop and then take bus number 10 towards Settignano and get off at D'Annunzio Ponte a Mensola stop and walk almost 1 km.
Medici Park of Pratolino
The Medici Park of Pratolino is a monumental complex that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013 and is about a 30-minute drive from the historic center of Florence. Commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by Francesco I de' Medici, this park in Florence we see today thanks to the impressive restorations promoted by the Russian prince Paolo Demidoff in the 19th century. There are many attractions that the Medici Park of Pratolino has to offer including: works and artifacts of Buontalenti's genius, two Italian-style gardens and a romantic-style garden-landscape. The most beautiful and well-known attraction, however, is the colossal Statue of the Apennines overlooking a small lake and created by Giambologna. In short, this in my opinion is among the most beautiful (if not the most beautiful) parks in Florence and is the ideal place for a trip out of town and being in nature.
Pratolino Medici Park is open to the public from April 1 to October 29 from Friday to Sunday and holidays. Opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April to September and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the month of October. Access is also allowed for animals. To get there from the historic center of Florence, you must first take bus number 7 to the Don Minzoni Libertà stop and then bus number 25 to the Pratolino stop.
Garden of Villa Poggio Torselli
Villa Poggio Torselli is one of the most elegant mansions in the hills of San Casciano above Florence. The mansion was built in the 15th century by the Machiavelli family and changed hands for several years until the Antinori family purchased it in 1702. The latter commissioned architect Lorenzo Merlini to transform the old building into the present structure, a sumptuous villa. The villa's marvelous garden (one of the most beautiful gardens in Florence and its province) is divided into two terraced shelves to the south and an English-style park area to the north. Inside you'll find flowers of all kinds (hyacinths, roses, tulips, daffodils), a very large lemon grove with as many as 120 centuries-old trees inside with lots of citrus, lots of boxwood hedges, and aromatic and medicinal herbs. The most beautiful thing, however, is that from here you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Chianti hills and also of Florence.
Visits to Villa Poggio Torselli and the gardens are possible by reservation only, and there are also various packages that you can book depending on which itinerary interests you most (which also include wine tasting of the wines produced here and olive oil tasting). However, I will leave you all the possible information HERE along with the contact page. To get there from the historic center of Florence you will have to go to the bus stop at Porta al Prato - Leopolda and take bus 368A towards Mercatale Val di Pesa. The nearest stop to the villa is San Casciano Ospedale from where you will then have to walk about 15 minutes to the entrance.
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