“It’s Springtime wake up little girls…,” this is the beginning of a cheerful olden Florentine tune which at one time was sung by boys courting girls to marry.
What is more appropriate in Florence, the town of Flowers, than a visit to a garden?
There are many gardens in town in addition to famous one at Boboli. The Orto Botanico - next to the University in San Marco - was created to study live medicinal plants in 16th century. Even if you are not able to get in you can see it by walking down Via La Marmora. Villa Gamberaia is located on the hill going to the town of Settignano, visited also by landscape architects. Villa i Tatti, visited on request, has a variety of flowers in a small spot which is so unique. There is also the Rose Garden, Villa Pratolino, the Garden of Stefano Bardini, and in a short time the Iris Garden. There is even the annual flower show at the end of April in Giardino dell’Orticoltura.
The most curious of all of them is the Iris Garden, open only in May. It contains a collection of more that 2,500 varieties of iris. Imagine a palette of bright colors on a splendid sunny day in an olive grove on the slopes of the Piazzale Michelangelo hill overlooking the town below. The Iris – similar in shape to a lily - is the emblem of Florence and is on its coat of arms. In fact this flower grows naturally in the surrounding countryside, in the hills along the dry terraced walls near olives. Since ancient days it has been cultivated in the nearby town of San Polo in Chianti and has been used in perfumes, soaps, and essential oils. Most of the historical pharmacies in town sell: Profumo al giaggiolo or acqua di Firenze!
It is so important, this flower, that every year at the end of May the town has a worldwide competition and elects the most beautiful Iris of the year … and just think it takes three years to be able to see the result of a new hybridization!!
Have a scent of giaggiolo in Town !
I like Giaggiolo and Giuggole too!
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