Iris Garden in Florence – 7 things to know
During these last few days of April I’ve been escaping to the Iris Garden in Florence, a unique place in my city that in recent years I have gotten to know very well. I thought I had posted about it before, but I realized that I never went into detail on my blog (though I do mention it in my post about the the most beautiful gardens in Florence). So I decided it was time to share with you all my definitive guide to the Iris Garden, including some photos.
Given that you already know it exists – which is no small thing, considering most Florentines don’t even know about it – here is a list of 7 interesting facts that you (perhaps) didn’t know about the Iris Garden in Florence.
7 fun facts about the Iris Garden in Florence
1 – Some history
The garden was created for the International Iris Competition by the Società Italiana dell’Iris (The Italian Iris Society), and was opened in 1957. Since then, they have planted hundreds of different species from all over the world, some very rare or ancient. Over the years it has become a botanical garden of international importance because it constitutes a true genetic bank for this genus of plant.
2 – the specie
The genus “Iris” is very large: these plants grow spontaneously in almost every environment and climate, they come in many different shapes and colors. In Italian, irises are also known as giaggiolo: this term seems to be derived from ghiaccio, meaning ice, because of the delicate color of the white iris.
3 – The iris garden in Florence
The area where the garden was planted was already home to olive trees which were incorporated into the design, and remain to this day. It is beautiful to see the expanse of colorful flowers stretching at the feet of these old, gnarled olive trees. But the Italian Iris Society were not the first to cultivate irises along with olive trees, it is an ancient tradition that still survives in certain areas of Chianti. In San Polo for example, there is an annual celebration in early May where irises are celebrated with the Giaggiolo Feast. There is a competition with several prizes, with the most important being the Florence Prize: the iris closest to the color red of the fleur-de-lis on the Florentine coat of arms, wins! Since red irises do not exist naturally, this award is an ongoing challenge because no one has been able to present a red iris.
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4 – The pond
In the lower part of the botanical garden you will find a pond which houses the marshland irises. In addition to those growing since the 1960s, like the tall yellow flowers from Louisiana, the gardeners recently added a species from Japan which has yet to bloom (I am very curious to see what it will look like!).5 – when to visit
The Iris Garden in Florence is only open for 20 days per year, between the end of April and the beginning of May, when the most flowers are in bloom. To find the exact opening days and times, I recommend that you consult the Iris Society‘s website. Keep in mind that the dates are announced only a few weeks before opening because it is dependent on the flowers, but entering is free!
6 – the location
The garden is on the east side of the Piazzale Michelangelo (if you are in the piazza, the garden is on the side furthest from the Ponte Vecchio). Across the piazzale from the Iris Garden is the Rose Garden, which is open all year round. Be sure to visit in the spring, when it is blooming and fragrant, I really advise you not to miss it. After the gorgeous views from the Piazzale Michelangelo, these two themed gardens are the icing on the cake.7 – The iris of Florence
So why is there a famous iris garden in Florence? Because the symbol of the city, the red flower on the Florentine coat of arms, is actually an iris and not a lily! Irises have been linked to the city since ancient Roman times, but in the transition from Roman Florence to medieval Christian Florence the iris (the flower of Venus) was slowly replaced with the lily (flower of the Madonna).
Private tours of the Iris garden in Florence
During the opening season I give private tours of the Iris garden combined with the close-by Rose Garden and Piazzale Michelangelo.
- When: from the end of april to the end of may
- Duration: about 2 hours
- Included: your local tour guide
- Not included: transportation
Get in contact to have more info, prices and to book your private tour in the most secret garden of Florence, by filling the form below.
