The Rose Garden (Giardino delle Rose) is a park in Florence where roses grow, there are ponds, sculptures, a Japanese garden and terraces with views of the city.
The garden is also known as the Florence Rose Garden.
The Florentine Rose Garden is located on the left (south) side of the Arno River, in the Oltrarno district of Florence, on the slopes of the Mountain of the Cross (Monte alle Croci, Monte alle Croci), just below the panoramic Michelangelo Square.
The park is known for its roses and terraces, which offer beautiful views of Florence, including the historical part of the city.
The Rose Garden was created by the Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi (also created the nearby Michelangelo Square) in 1865 on behalf of the Municipality of Florence and as part of a program to develop the left bank of the Arno River.
After its creation, roses began to be collected in the garden, and in 1895 the garden was opened to the public during the Festival of Arts and Flowers, which was held every May.
In 1998, the Japanese oasis of Serai appeared in the garden - a Japanese garden (Giardino Giapponese), which still exists today, created by the Japanese architect Yasuo Kitai, and donated to Florence by the twin city of Kyoto and the Kodai-ji Zen temple. Since September 2011, ten bronze sculptures and two plaster casts of the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon, donated by his widow to the Municipality of Florence, have been placed in the Rose Garden.
Today, the Rose Garden, with a Japanese garden located on its territory, is an oasis of greenery and tranquility, where many varieties of roses (somewhere 350-400), lemons and other plants grow.
Also in the garden there are ponds with fish, paths and alleys for walking, places to relax.
One of the most interesting objects that attract visitors to the Rose Garden are the terraces that offer views of Florence.
There is a panoramic cafe in the garden.
Scheme of the Rose Garden of Florence
Practical information
Entrance to the Rose Garden is free.
There are several entrances to the garden, one of which is located just below Michelangelo Square.
The garden is open all year round from 9:00 to sunset (20:00 from May to September, 18:00 in October, March and April and 17:00 from November to February), except Christmas and New Year. The best time to visit the garden to enjoy all its beauty is spring, when roses bloom.
Coordinates of the Florence Rose Garden: 43°45'47.0"N 11°15'46.0"E (43.763056, 11.262778).
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
