Giardino dell'Iris
Giardino dell'Iris is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Florence audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~60 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type garden
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Florence Florence guide
About Giardino dell'Iris
A hillside garden above Piazzale Michelangelo dedicated to Florence's civic symbol, the iris, with thousands of varieties blooming in May, spectacular views over the city, and an international iris competition.
The Giardino dell'Iris (Iris Garden) occupies a terraced hillside above Piazzale Michelangelo, on the slope of the hill that rises toward San Miniato al Monte. It is one of Florence's most unusual gardens, dedicated entirely to the iris, which is the historic civic symbol of Florence (the stylised iris, or giglio, appears on the city's coat of arms and on the Florentine football club's crest).
The garden was created in 1954 by the Iris Society of Florence and is open to the public only in May, when the irises are in bloom. It contains over 2,500 different iris cultivars, historic varieties, modern hybrids, and wild species, planted on terraces that cascade down the hillside. At the same time each year, the garden hosts the Concorso Internazionale dell'Iris, an international competition for new iris varieties that attracts hybridizers from around the world.
The garden's position on the hillside gives it extraordinary views over Florence, essentially the same panorama as Piazzale Michelangelo below, but in a setting of concentrated colour and fragrance rather than tourist crowds.
Did you know? The iris (called 'giglio' in Florentine dialect) has been the civic symbol of Florence since at least the 12th century, appearing on the city's coat of arms, on Renaissance guild shields, and in countless artworks. The city was sometimes called 'the city of the lily' in medieval and Renaissance sources.
How long should you spend at Giardino dell'Iris?
Plan about ~60 min at Giardino dell'Iris. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Giardino dell'Iris worth visiting?
Giardino dell'Iris is one of the 42 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Florence, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Florence
Hear the story of Giardino dell'Iris
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