Inside the Boboli Gardens there is a secret space, the Garden of the Camellias. During the year it is closed to the public but from January to Mid April it is extraordinarily open.
In 1688, when the prince’s apartments were given to Violante Beatrice of Bavaria, bride of the Gran Principe Ferdinando de' Medici, the garden was renovated by architects Giacinto and Biagio Marmi, who rearranged it as it still appears today .
The camellia is thought to have arrived in Italy from the far East around the end of the 18th century, and Tuscany was one of the most crucial distribution centres for this flower, given its abundance of local enthusiasts and growers. Many japonica plants are grown in this space, among them the astonishing Candidissima with white blossoms.
Visits are allowd ffrom Friday to Sunday for small groups of 20 persons.
