The Iris Garden

Should you be in Florence between April and May you shouldn’t miss out on the spectacular display of hundreds of Irises in a riot of colors inside the Iris Garden at Piazzale Michelangelo. Founded in 1954, in concurrence with an international competition for the best Iris variety, the gardens hold the most beautiful and rarest varieties of irises in the world, including some protected species at risk of extinction.
Florence was selected to host the competition because the city has always had strong ties to the flower, using its blossom, rendered in red, as the city’s emblem–contrary to the popular belief that the lily is the symbol of the city. In recent years experts have tried to grow red irises like the those represented on the Renaissance flags of Florence, but without success. However, seeing that the iris’s natural color is purple (the color of Florence’s football team) the Florentine’s don’t mind waiting a bit.
The park is roughly 2.5 hectares (25,000 sqm) with olives, larch trees and strawberry bushes as well as paths and an artificial pond that create a relaxing and peaceful environment.

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