The Iris garden is located below Piazzale Michelangelo In Florence and is open only for a month a year, or in the moment of spring flowering.
Was born in 1954 with the aim of hosting the ‘Florence award’an international competition for the best varieties of the plant on the initiative of Flaminia Specht and Nita Strosse Radicati, members of the Italian company friends of the flowers.
On the other hand, Florence has always had a very close bond with Iris, so much so that The emblem of his banner It is precisely the red Iris in the white field and not a lily like many believe.
The history of the Iris garden
The garden, originally designed by the architect Prof. Giuliano Zetti and inaugurated in May 1957, has undergone a series of enrichments over time thanks to the donations from numerous foreign farmers. In addition, it has been enriched by a vast collection of historical Iris from the Presby Memorial Garden of Montclair, New Jersey, in the United States. In 1967, in the lower part of the garden, a lake specially designed was created to host the Japanese and Louisian Iris, exploiting the surrounding acquiring ground.
The garden extends over an area of about two and a half hectares, characterized by a suggestive olive grove and a breathtaking panoramic view of the city of Florence. It is divided by Vialetti Seliati in Serena Pietra, pitches, ladders and perimeter stairways, thus creating a welcoming and easily accessible structure. The various areas of the garden host a rich variety of plants, among which the following stand out:
This mix of plants and landscape elements makes the garden an enchanting and suggestive place, ideal for relaxing and admiring the beauty of nature.
Iris, the meaning
Iris in Asia is considered as a magical talisman And he was painted on the armor of the soldiers to protect them from enemies. In the Florentine garden you can admire many varieties, There are the rainbow ones, in addition to the purple, white, red and so on, each with its own meaning.
For example, the Iris Viola flower O ‘Giaggiolo di S. Antonio’ is considered a symbol of wisdomthat white O ‘Giglio of Florence’ O ‘Giaggiolo Bianco’ of purity, that blue O ‘Giaggiolo odoroso’ or ‘Giaggiolo delicate’ of faith and hope.
Your fluttering petals they look like a butterfly And this year a new Japanese, aquatic collection was also added to the garden.
Useful info
The Iris garden is managed by Italian Society of Iris And it can only be visited a month a year. The opening days for 2024 range from April 25 until May 20, The doors are open every day From Monday to Sunday 10.00-18.00
Free guided tours in Italian and English can be booked
Other gardens to visit:
