Gardens and Parks in Florence

Florence is home to many lovely parks and gardens.  Their sizes and styles are as varied as can be.

One of the nicest and largest gardens is the private garden of the Four Seasons Hotel near our apartment.  We can see the garden from our window. 

Unfortunately, unless you are a guest of the Four Seasons, you may only admire the garden from outside the gates. 

Fortunately, the good people at the Four Seasons open the park to the public annually.  The park was opened one recent Sunday.  A small donation was requested to help fund a new school bus for the children of Cittareale, a small Italian town largely devastated by the August earthquakes.  Based on the crowds of people strolling through the garden, the bus will soon be shuttling the children to school. 

The open day offered more than a stroll in the park.  All over the garden were booths offering food and drink, plus there were balloons for the bambini, music and performers.  The atmosphere was festive and happy. 

Here are some photos from our visit. 

Performers waiting for their time.  A lovely winter garden in the foreground.

The garden has all sorts of different features, like this lily pond and grotto.

The garden has a collection of many modern sculptures.  Of course, no collection would be complete without a balancing bear.

The garden is full of beautiful things.  (What's up with the strangely colored frogs?)

How has a large private garden survived in the center of Florence into the 21st century?   The Four Seasons is a newcomer to this location in Florence.  The hotel opened in 2008 in what was once a private home, completed in 1480.  It was not just any private home.  For a time, it was the home of a member of the Medici family, Alessandro, then Archbishop of Florence and a Cardinal.  When Alessandro became Pope Leo XI in 1605, he gave the property to his sister Constance who married Hugh Gherardesca.  Since then, the property has been known as the Palazzo della Gherardesca.  Throughout its existence, the palazzo and grounds have been improved and expanded.  When converted to a hotel, the palazzo was renovated and its luster was enhanced.  Plus, the hotel's restaurant now boasts a Michelin star.  Here are some photos of the palazzo.

The palazzo seen from the garden

The inner courtyard, before conversion to a hotel

The inner courtyard, after conversion.  In October, we toured the main floor of the hotel and it is beautiful.

The Royal Suite is fit for a princess.  It will set you back about 15K euro per night.  Thankfully, the value of the  dollar is improving against the euro.  So, the time is right.  Please stop by our apartment when you are in town.  Or better yet, please have us over for tea.   

A benefit of living where we do is the occasional celebration with fireworks in the Four Seasons garden.  We can watch the fireworks from our apartment and hear the accompanying music.  The night after the open-garden day, there was a long fireworks display accompanied by music.  The fireworks concluded with a recording of Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman singing Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò, in Italian, or "I will leave with you").   (Click hear to listen to a live version.)