Over the centuries, thanks to the Arno River and a particularly fertile land, the city of Florence has witnessed a blossoming of gorgeous gardens and orchards. The most important ones still exist to this day. The area of most interest in Florence in this regard is the one nestled in between the road leading down from the Piazzale Michelangelo and the Boboli Gardens.
This area includes the Mozzi-Bardini Gardens, which stand out as a marvelous historical example of green urban landscaping. These gardens border in turn the Palazzo Vegni gardens, which belonged for many centuries to the noble Gianni family. Also located nearby are the gardens of the Palazzo Petroviz d'Armis, which extend into an area occupied at one time by houses and orchards as well as the 17th century convent of San Agostino and Santa Cristina. The gardens of the Palazzo Serristori have direct river access. The Boboli Gardens, located behind the Palazzo Pitti, the residence first of the Medicis and then the House of Lorraine and Savoy, are considered one of the most beautiful and important examples of an Italian Renaissance garden. They display all of the fundamental characteristics that architects would use to define such a garden: the presence of a series of terraces and slopes used to advantage to obtain effects in perspective through terraces, flights of steps and stairways, fountains, connecting elements and water tricks, and the whole conceived in order to establish a visual harmony between the garden, the landscape and the architecture.

Boboli Gardens
Constructed in the heart of Florence between the Belvedere Fort and the Palazzo Pitti, the royal residence of the Medicis, the Boboli Gardens are in fact a monumental park full of great scenic effects and are considered an excellent, perhaps even the best, example of the combination of elements deemed to be the archetype of a classic Italian-style garden.
Boboli spreads out over almost five hectares. Its completion is a significant accomplishment covering four centuries of history, from the Renaissance to the 19th century, and represents inevitably the result of many successive works having been carried out according to the desires of the different rulers that lived in the palace over the years. Not only are the gardens remarkable for their very structural and orderly presentation of rare and unusual plants and flowers, but this botanic heritage can be found alongside many stand-alone pieces of art, masterpieces in their own right in terms of architecture and of sculpture done in mannerist and neoclassical style, rich in significance and symbolic references.

The Boboli Gardens originated as the ideal extension of the Palazzo Pitti's courtyard. They were purchased in 1550 by Eleonora of Toledo, wife of Cosimo I of the Medicis, when their first owner, the banker Luca Pitta, went into bankruptcy. There was an area set aside for orchards and growing of agriculture in front of the palace that Eleonora wished to expand and transform into a true and proper garden. A vast area rising up atop the boundary walls and city ramparts was found for the expansion. This area was already called Boboli, a recurring name in Tuscan place names to distinguish woodland areas. The project was entrusted to Niccolò Pericoli, known as "il Tribolo", who had already developed the gardens of the Villa del Castello for Cosimo I. Other different architects took over upon Tribolo's death. The inner groves were, and still are today, made up of evergreen oaks and the hedges that lined the avenues. The Viottolone, a central path bordered by cypresses as well as many precious sculptures, cuts across the gardens and ends at the splendid island basin. This section was intended for the growing of citruses and flowers. In fact, around 200 vats of lemon trees were set out introducing a tradition that would remain a fixed element of Tuscan gardens. The Medicis loved citruses for their medicinal and aromatic characteristics and even today, there is still a rich collection of rare plants in the "Lemon House". At the centre of the "Isola" or "little island", there is a beautiful fountain surrounded by flowerbeds in which a collection of antique roses and hundreds of bulbs were recently planted.
In 1992 the Boboli Gardens were given the status of a museum which welcomes around 800 000 visitors each year.
During a visit to the gardens, it is also possible to visit the Silver Museum, the Porcelain Museum and the Costumes Museum.
A combined ticket for all of the places mentioned also includes entry to the Bardini Gardens.

The Bardini Gardens
As far back as 1259, the very wealthy Mozzi family was the owner of houses and land strategically located in an area bordered by the neighborhood around the Ponte alle Grazie. The main palazzo was a residence noteworthy for having accommodated Pope Gregorio X in 1273 when he visited Florence. In 1309, the fortunes of the Mozzis took a downturn however and following the collapse of its merchant company the municipality of Florence bought its assets. At this time, the first description of the palace and its gardens were drawn up. The latter was in fact a walled, contained orchard growing next to the house. Its layout was typically medieval and very far removed from the concept of a Renaissance garden today. Nevertheless, it already represented a modern vision of how a garden should be presented in a wide open space, yet conscious of its surrounding environment.
The property then went through the hands of different owners, some of whom worked on enhancing the value of the land by adding small gardens or acquiring adjacent plots. Towards the middle of the 19th century, the Mozzi family once again became the owners of the entire estate and created one enormous garden. However, the medieval walled gardens still existed and continued to serve their original purpose. The two main gardens were partitioned by a long fountain wall. A green house and work sheds were located in the first garden. The partition continued on towards the east through the garden of camellias, cut across a fountain, where it ended at the grand staircase. At one time, the garden of camellias was surrounded by groves.
In 1907, the property was bought by the antiques dealer Stefano Bardini who, although aware of the historical significance surrounding the palace and its gardens, had a new road built which effectively cut off the connection between the Mozzi houses and the baroque staircase. However, while adding this new feature and changing the architecture, Bardini also took the opportunity to enhance with decorative touches and flourishes the most significant aspects of the majestic garden. The gardens became a sort of open-air show room where the genuine works were blended in with fakes and copies creating a series of traps for the art expert. Nowadays, the gardens represent a true unknown masterpiece hidden in the heart of Florence.bardin