The Bardini Garden and Villa Bardini (Giardino Bardini, Villa Bardini) is a historic Italian Renaissance complex in Florence, consisting of a villa and a garden, together representing a beautiful ensemble, included in the tops of the city's attractions.
The Bardini Garden is located on the left (south) side of the Arno River, on the slopes of the Montecuccoli hill.
The garden offers beautiful panoramic views of Florence, and in the garden itself is Villa Bardini, which houses the Annigoni Museum (Museo Annigoni) and hosts temporary exhibitions.
Also notable in the gardens is the Loggia Belvedere with a terrace where there is a panoramic cafe.
The area where the garden and villa are located today has belonged to the Mozzi family since the Middle Ages and bordered their palace - Palazzo dei Mozzi. Already in 1259, a walled vegetable garden adjacent to the back of the building was mentioned.
Originally Villa Bardini, which was then known as Villa Manadora, was built in the first half of the 17th century by architect Gerardo Silvani. The name of the villa comes from the name of the client, Francesco Manadori.
Subsequently, the villa and gardens changed owners and transformed.
In 1913, the entire complex was bought by the Italian antiquarian and collector Stefano Bardini, who initiated a number of major repairs and modifications.
After Stefano's death, the property passed to his son Hugo Bardini, who died without heirs in 1965, and in 1996 the property passed to the city of Florence, after which it was restored and opened to the public as a museum complex.
Today, the complex of a villa and a garden is surrounded by an old wall.
Villa Bardini houses a monographic museum dedicated to the work and works of the Italian artist Pietro Annigoni (Museo Pietro Annigoni), which includes paintings, portraits, self-portraits, drawings, engravings and memorabilia.
Temporary exhibitions and cultural events are also held within the walls of the villa.
Villa Bardini is surrounded by a magnificent terraced Italian Bardini Garden.
Near Villa Bardini there is a terrace, which is one of the best in the gardens and offers panoramic views of Florence, including the historic city center with its dominants: the complex of the Cathedral of Florence Santa Maria del Fiore, the Vecchio Palace Museum and the Basilica of Santa Croce.
The Bardini Garden consists of several zones:
- italian garden with a magnificent baroque staircase;
- English forest, which with its exotic elements is a rare example of an Anglo-Chinese garden;
- an agricultural park where a new orchard and a wisteria gazebo were discovered.
In the garden there are sculptures, two caves (grottoes), flower beds, lawns, paths and alleys for walking, places to relax; and due to the fact that the garden is located on the slopes of a hill, panoramic views open from different parts of it.
The most picturesque part of the garden is a high terraced Baroque staircase decorated with sculptures.
The staircase leads to the highest part of the garden - the terrace, where the Belvedere loggia is located, in which today there is a cafe with tables in the open air.
In the summer months, screenings from the "Cinema and Literature" cycle take place here (attendance is paid).
The terrace offers views of Florence.
P.S.
Not far from the Bardini Gardens is a building built by Stefano Bardini to house his collection.
Today, the Bardini Museum (Museo Stefano Bardini) is located here, where the collection of the Italian antiquarian and collector Stefano Bardini is on display. More about the Bardini Museum…
Practical information
Entrance to the garden and Villa Bardini is paid. Children under 18 are free of charge. There are discounted tickets.
With a ticket to the Bardini Garden, you can visit the nearby Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli) for free. So don't throw away the tickets.
Tickets can be purchased in advance online, at the Bardini Garden ticket office and at the Boboli Gardens ticket offices.
All variations of tickets, as well as their cost, places of purchase, opening hours of the garden and villa, exhibitions and events held at the villa, visiting conditions and other relevant information are recommended to check on the official website of Villa Bardini: villabardini.it.
Entrance to the Bardini Garden from Via dei Bardi 1 red and Costa San Giorgio 2.
Coordinates of the Bardini Garden: 43°45'49.5"N 11°15'26.5"E (43.763747, 11.257358).
All accommodation facilities in Florence (hotels, apartments, guest houses, etc.), including in the historical center of the city and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
