Gardens of Florence Walking Tour

Before you start the visit, you will have time for a delicious cappuccino or espresso at the caffetteria inside Pitti Palace. The tour will start with an introduction of the building, the life and the history of the Medicis, the Lorraine-Apsburgic family and the Savoia's. Then, you will stroll up and down the ancient paths, surrounded by original sculptures, and huge pitchers with lemon and orange trees, and closed green grass, where you can sit and read a newspaper or just to enjoy the place.

The succession of gradients and slopes was exploited to achieve perspective effects through terraces, stairways, ramps, water fountains, chains and exhibitions and to establish a Visual connection between the garden, landscape and architecture. The garden became one of the most important expressions of 16th-century architecture.

After you visit this garden, cross the Forte di Belvedere, which was the "Art's-safe of the Medicis" where you will enter another garden, called "Bardini". This garden was a property which was bought and sold between different families until the last century, when Stefano Bardini, a collectionist of Art works, decided to use the garden as a "show-room".

Finally, walk down through the Bardini, and take time to take pictures of the gorgeous views of Florence and its Hills.