The 5 must-see gardens in Tuscany

With the spring approaching, the trees begin to bloom giving us breathtaking shows and the desire of an escape into the nature!

Planning a weekend to discover a world made of perfumes, flowers, colors and magic will make you feel more charged and more serene. Our guide to the most beautiful Tuscany gardens will help you discover a wide and wonderful choice of green corners of authentic beauty that are worth visiting.

Here is our selection, among villas, castles and ancient residences, to discover a world made of flowers, perfumes, sounds and splendor!

Garden of Villa Bardini: the most beautiful panorama in Florence

Perched on the hill of Montecuccoli, the Bardini Garden is an unmissable sight. The history of this four-hectares garden starts in the Middle Ages and goes all the way to the latest renovations of the present. It represents one of the most beautiful green spaces in Florence: the mosaic fountains, the natural caves, the statues will transport you to a magical and fairytale place. The Bardini Garden is divided into three different gardens: the first is crossed by an ancient seventeenth-century staircase, the most elegant part, with its beautiful statues that bring back to the ancient splendor of a few centuries ago. From here you will begin to enjoy the superb panorama of Florence. Following the path, you will find the orchard and the agricultural park until you get to the wonderful gallery of wisteria, the most spectacular feature of Giardino Bardini.

Garden of Villa Garzoni, the green treasure in the town of Pinocchio

Elected in 2015 the most beautiful park in Italy, the garden of Villa Graziani is located in Collodi, a pretty village in the municipality of Pescia, known worldwide for giving birth to the creator of Pinocchio.

The majestic Villa Garzoni and its garden boast a centuries-old history and, fortunately, the architectural complex has remained unchanged over the centuries. Built on a slope like the Villa, the Garden is organized on terraces: here elements of the Renaissance and Baroque blend perfectly creating a magical atmosphere made of statues, flower beds, stairways, greenery theaters, pools and splashes of water. The water features and scenographic effects present date back to 1793 and were an idea of ​​the architect from Lucca Ottaviano Diodati. Since 2007 inside the Garden it is possible to visit the Butterfly House, one of the first butterfly houses made in Italy.

A centuries-old place between architecture, nature and history: Villa La Foce

This enchanting garden is located inside the homonymous La Foce, founded at the end of the 1400s by the Santa Maria della Scala hospital in Siena as a hostel for pilgrims who walked the Via Francigena. In 1924 the La Foce estate was purchased by the Marquis Antonio and Iris Origo and with the help of the English architect Cecil Pinsent, their close friend, they managed to bring the natural magic of the estate to life. It is one of the most beautiful and well-kept masterpieces of the 20th century, an enchanted place where elegance blends with nature and the landscape that surrounds it.

Park of the Villa Reale di Marlia: 16 hectares of wonders

Located a few km from the city center of Lucca, Villa Reale di Marlia is one of the most important historical homes in Italy. The villa was the residence of Elisa Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister and princess of Lucca. With 16 hectares, its enchanting park is crossed by the avenues of the Camellias and is home to two famous theaters, that of Water and that of Verzura.

As soon as the gate that separates it from the rest of the world opens, you can explore all the beauty of the ancient seventeenth-century plant, characterized by hedges, flower beds and tall trees, as well as the area inspired by English gardens with paths that wind through nature, shady woods and panoramic areas.

Rose garden: one of the most beautiful gardens in Tuscany

Located on the San Miniato hill, the Rose Garden enjoys a privileged position where it is possible to observe the best of Florentine monuments. Built in 1865 by Giuseppe Poggi, today it has become one of the most loved gardens in the region. With more than 400 varieties of roses, (each different from the other in color, size, perfume) and other ornamental plants arranged along the terraces of the park, it is the ideal place for a very fragrant walk. Since 2011, the garden has hosted a collection of works by Folon donated by his wife after his death in 2005. Folon’s works seem an integral part of the garden and the view, making this corner of Florentine paradise even more romantic and special.