Coming to Florence means a passage to the breathtaking view from the Piazzale Michelangelo, but once up there, in addition to the amazing panorama and the beautiful church of San Miniato there is another hidden spot that definitely deserves a visit: the Rose Garden.

Located right below the Piazzale Michelangelo, it was built in 1865 by Giuseppe Poggi the architect of the piazzale,  on behalf of the City of Florence in anticipation of moving the capital of Italy from Turin. It covers about one hectare of terraced land which offers a panoramic view of the city.

In 1895 the garden was opened to the public during the Festival of Arts and Flowers that the Fine Arts Society and the Italian Society of Horticulture held every May.

Today the garden has about 1000 plant varieties that all visitors can admire, on the occasion of a pleasant walk.

Two recent enrichments have been added to the garden:

– In 1998 a Japanese garden called Shorai designed by the Japanese Yasuo Kitayama, which was donated to Florence from Kyoto (from Kodai -Ji Zen temple) twin city of Florence.

– In September 2011, the Garden is also home to ten sculptures in bronze and two plaster casts of the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon, thanks to the donation made by the widow of the artist to the city of Florence.

Should you like to discover more about the secret gardens and amazing sightseeing spots in Florence, take a look at our Art History courses, our teachers will be glad to organize a personalized program for you!