Introduction to the most beautiful gardens in Tuscany
The gardens of Tuscany are famous all over the world for their beauty and for the art of gardening they represent. With a long tradition of art and culture, Tuscany offers a wide range of gardens, from large historic gardens to more modern and contemporary ones.
The most famous gardens in Tuscany are those of the large villas and historic buildings, such as the Boboli Gardens in Florence, that of the Medici Villa in Castello or the Garden of Palazzo Pfanner in Lucca. These gardens have been designed in such a way as to combine the art of gardening with the beauty of the surrounding architecture and landscape.
In addition to historic gardens, Tuscany also offers a wide range of contemporary gardens, such as the Tarot Garden located near Capalbio. These gardens have been designed to offer a unique sensory experience, where the art of gardening is combined with contemporary art.
Furthermore, Tuscany is famous for its typical plants and flowers, such as roses, irises and peonies, which are grown in many of its gardens. The gardens of Tuscany are also known for their fountains, statues and sculptures, which contribute to creating a unique and suggestive atmosphere.
In conclusion, the gardens of Tuscany are a unique tourist attraction, combining the beauty of the art of gardening with the history and culture of the region. They offer an unforgettable experience for all visitors, whether they are gardening enthusiasts or simply looking for a pleasant and relaxing experience in the great outdoors.
What are the most beautiful and famous gardens in Tuscany?
Since there are so many, it is difficult to make a complete list, but below you will find a rather long list with some of the most famous gardens in Tuscany:
- Boboli Gardens
- Giardino dei Semplici
- Garden of Villa La Petraia
- Giardino della Villa Medicea di Castello
- Garden of Villa Gamberaia
- Garden of Villa del Trebbio
- Garden of Villa Garzoni
- Garden of Palazzo Pfanner
- Giardino della Villa Reale di Marlia
- La Foce
- Horti Leonini
- Garden of Daniel Spoerri
- Tarot Garden
Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens is a historic garden located in Florence, near the magnificent Palazzo Pitti. The garden was designed for the Medici family in the 16th century and covers an area of approximately 45 hectares.
The garden is characterized by a series of stepped terraces, decorated with statues, fountains and basins, which offer a panoramic view of the city of Florence. The garden is famous for being one of the best examples of an Italian Renaissance garden.
The Boboli Gardens were designed to be a place for strolling and contemplating, with particular attention to the beauty of the landscape and the art of gardening. The garden is open to the public for guided tours throughout the year, and is an ideal place for those who love the art of gardening, culture and architectural art. The Boboli Gardens is one of the largest and most famous gardens in Italy, a must-see if you visit Florence.
Giardino dei Semplici
The Giardino dei Semplici is a botanical garden located in Florence, Tuscany. The garden was founded in 1545 by the Medici family as a pharmaceutical garden, for the cultivation of medicinal and medicinal plants. The garden covers an area of about 2 hectares.
The garden is characterized by a series of flowerbeds, borders and pools, where medicinal and medicinal plants are grown, including herbs, flowers and ornamental plants, with particular attention to their use in traditional medicine and pharmacology. The Giardino dei Semplici is open to the public for guided tours throughout the year, and is an ideal place for those who love botany, medicine and history. It is an ideal destination for all those who want to learn more about the use of plants for medicine and pharmacology.
Garden of Villa La Petraia
The Garden of Villa La Petraia is a historic garden located near Florence. Designed in the 16th century for the Medici family, the garden covers an area of approximately 20 hectares. The garden is characterized by a series of stepped terraces, decorated with statues, fountains and basins, which offer a panoramic view of the city of Florence, with Brunelleschi’s Dome in full view, and of the surrounding hills. Large well-kept flowerbeds, its marble statues and fountains are the visiting cards of this magnificent corner of paradise. In the garden of the Medici Villa La Petraia there are also various species of trees and shrubs typical of the Mediterranean flora.
Villa La Petraia, with its beautiful Italian garden, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the immediate vicinity of Florence, and it is no coincidence that in 2013 it was declared a World Heritage Site like the other Medici villas.
Garden of Villa Medicea di Castello
Not far from Villa La Petraia, we also find the Medici Villa of Castello with its beautiful garden. Headquarters of the renowned Accademia della Crusca, the Villa di Castello boasts a large Italian garden which in 2013 was awarded the prize for the most beautiful public park in Italy. The garden of the Villa di Castello is spread over two large terraces to which are added the so-called “Grotta degli Animali”, the secret gardens and the January fountain. Visiting it, you can admire numerous sculptures of great value, especially on the first terrace and in the animal cave. On the second terrace there are instead many magnificent citrus plants that are part of an extraordinary collection of about 500 specimens.
Garden of Villa Gamberaia
The Garden of Villa Gamberaia is a historic garden located in Settignano near Florence. The garden was designed in the 18th century and then restored during the 1900s, as the villa and its garden had suffered extensive damage during the Second World War. In the garden there are several very beautiful and interesting areas such as the hemicycle, the water parterre, the rustic cabinet and the nymphaeum.
Garden of Villa del Trebbio
Let’s move to Mugello, not far from San Piero a Sieve, to reach another Medici villa and its garden: Villa del Trebbio. Like all Medici villas, this one too boasts a large beautiful Italian garden with well-kept flowerbeds and luxuriant plants.
Garden of Villa Garzoni
The Garden of Villa Garzoni and its Butterfly House are located in Collodi, in the province of Pistoia. The Garden of Villa Garzoni is a Baroque garden designed in the seventeenth century for the Garzoni family. It is a garden full of fountains, statues, pools, well-kept flowerbeds and floral decorations.
Inside there is also the Butterfly House, an exhibition structure that houses a vast collection of tropical butterflies from all over the world. The butterfly house was designed to create a natural environment for butterflies to fly freely within the structure.
Garden of Palazzo Pfanner
Palazzo Pfanner and its gardens are located in the historic center of Lucca. A stunning example of an Italian-style Baroque garden, the garden of Palazzo Pfanner was designed by the architect Filippo Juvarra in the 18th century. Inside you can admire a series of eighteenth-century statues depicting various characters from classical myths starting from the Gods of Olympus.
Film set of some very successful films, the garden of Palazzo Pfanner also boasts a very luxuriant flora that different types of flowers and trees which, especially in spring, are able to give a truly noteworthy show.
Garden of Villa Reale di Marlia
The Garden of the Villa Reale di Marlia is located a few kilometers from Lucca. Over time the villa and the garden have undergone a series of transformations and today the garden is divided into an upper garden and a lower garden. The first, the upper one, is a roof garden characterized by a lush green lawn with a magnificent Magnolia grandiflora in the center. The lower garden is instead a very formal example of an Italian garden with flower beds
La Foce
Villa La Foce is located in the Tuscan countryside, near Chianciano Terme. Built in various stages between 1927 and 1939, the garden is made up of three distinct sectors that wind over several levels. Well-kept flower beds, pergolas, fountains, statues, magnificent plants and a breathtaking view of Monte Amiata and the Tuscan countryside, this garden lacks for nothing! It is a real piece of heaven on earth.
Horti Leonini
The Horti Leonini are a historic garden located in San Quirico d’Orcia, in the province of Siena. The garden was created during the sixteenth century by Diomede Leoni. Appreciated example of a Renaissance Italian garden, the Horti Leonini are spread over two levels. On the lower level we find a series of well-kept boxwood flowerbeds with the statue of Cosimo III de’ Medici in the centre. The upper level, on the other hand, is largely occupied by a large lawn surrounded by a grove of holm oaks. Not far away there is also another garden, the Giardino delle Rose.
Garden of Daniel Spoerri
Daniel Spoerri’s Garden is an art garden located in Seggiano, in the province of Grosseto. The garden was created by Swiss artist Daniel Spoerri, known for his conceptual art and for being one of the founders of Eat Art.
Located within a 16-hectare area, the garden offers a path that winds through large meadows and small woods. The visit will allow you to admire a large number of works of art, scattered throughout the garden, created both by Daniel Spoerri and by other international artists.
Tarot Garden
The Tarot Garden is an art garden located in Capalbio, in Maremma. The garden was created by the French artist Niki de Saint Phalle starting in the late 1970s and covers an area of approximately 2 hectares.
The garden features a series of sculptures and installations inspired by tarot cards, including the 22 figures of the major arcana, each representing a different archetype. The sculptures have been created using recycled materials and have been designed to create a unique sensory experience, where art merges with nature.
The Tarot Garden was created to be an extension of the art of Niki de Saint Phalle, and represents a one of a kind immersive experience, where the visitor can walk among the works of art and interact with them. The garden is open to the public throughout the year and is an ideal place for those who love contemporary art and culture.
