Rose Garden

The Rose Garden, located in the Oltrarno district of Florence, below Piazzale Michelangelo, is a corner of paradise that offers spectacular views of the city. Designed in 1865 by architect Giuseppe Poggi, the garden was conceived as part of Florence’s urban transformation project, when the city became the capital of Italy. This terraced garden covers about one hectare and houses a rich botanical collection, including over 350 varieties of ancient roses. Originally, the garden was part of a property owned by the Filippini fathers, known as “podere di San Francesco”. The land was later transformed into an ornamental garden by Attilio Pucci, who created a series of terraces exploiting the natural conformation of the site. These terraces are still one of the distinctive elements of the garden today, offering a rational and pleasant arrangement of plants. The Rose Garden was first opened to the public in 1895, on the occasion of the Arts and Flowers festival, organized by the Society of Fine Arts and the Italian Horticultural Society. The layout of the garden follows the French model, with a natural environment that combines bucolic and rationalized elements, creating an atmosphere of great tranquility and beauty. One of the most interesting aspects of the garden is the sophisticated irrigation system, designed with a cistern located high up near Piazzale Michelangelo, and a series of pipes that carry water to the numerous outlets scattered throughout the garden. This system allows the plants to remain lush even during periods of drought. In 1998, the Rose Garden was enriched with a Japanese oasis, Shorai, donated to Florence by its twin city Kyoto and the Zen temple Kōdai-ji. Designed by architect Yasuo Kitayama, this section of the garden offers a corner of meditation and serenity, with plants and architectural elements typical of Japanese gardens, in perfect harmony with the surrounding environment. In 2011, the garden received an important donation: ten bronze sculptures and two plaster casts by Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon. These works, donated by the artist’s widow to the Municipality of Florence, were placed in various points of the garden, adding an additional element of artistic interest. Folon’s sculptures, including “Un oiseau”, “Chat-oiseau”, “Panthère” and “Walking”, integrate the natural environment with contemporary art, creating a visual and emotional dialogue with visitors. Today, the Rose Garden boasts around 1,000 botanical varieties, with a predominance of roses, including many ancient species that offer a spectacular spring and summer bloom. Walking in the Rose Garden means immersing oneself in an environment of rare beauty, where every corner offers a new discovery. The panoramic terraces offer breathtaking views of Florence, with its historic monuments standing out on the horizon.