An itinerary through breathtaking green areas and panoramas

Warmer days mean spending time outdoors: why not visit some new places, like the panoramical gardens?

Here’s a short itinerary through the most beautiful public and private gardens that can boast an amazing view as well as a thriving nature.

Gardens up high
One of the most fascinating ones is undoubtedly Bardini Garden: it unwinds along a hillside, offering many perspectives over the city. and it’s dominated by Villa Bardini, a temporary exhibitions’ venue. 

The Garden of Roses like Bardini’s was built on the side of a hill. Flowers, and especially roses, are sided by the dreamy sculptures realized by Jean Michel Folon. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a beautiful view while leaning on the grass.

Just above this colorful area, there’s piazzale Michelangelo and, higher, the beautiful romanic church of San Miniato al Monte.
To go back down to the city center, the easiest way is to follow Poggi’s Ramps, a scenographic staircase enriched by fountains and light effects (by night).
Bellosguardo is another hill from which to admire the view. There are no gardens here, but the walk up to the viewpoint is quite romantic. 

Along the river
Along Arno river, by San Niccolò tower, there’s the so-called Third Garden, a large green area grown on the riverbank. 

And also on the riverbank, but on the opposite side, going west, there’s the widest public space of the city, the Cascine Park, perfect for long strolls, for some outdoor exercise and for fresh air during the summer. The park also houses sport facilities and concert arenas (Firenze Rocks takes place here in June).

Outside the city walls
The last recommendation of this itinerary is just a few steps far from the city center, at the beginning of via Bolognese: it’s Giardino dell’Orticoltura, famous for the beautiful tepidarium designed by Giacomo Roster in glass and iron, venue for the colorful exhibition of Plants and Flowers, taking place twice a year (at the end of April and at the beginning of October). 
A path beginning at the back of the large greenhouse, winds up to a panoramical garden called Orti del Parnaso, where you can sit on a bench and enjoy the all-encompassing view of Florence from a different vantage point… but beware of the dragon!  

The public opening of the garden of Villa la Quiete is imminent. We are in the Careggi area and the villa was the buen ritiro of several women of the Medici family. From here the view is over the plain to the west of the city centre