As part of your visit to Florence, plan to take breaks in between visits to museums and churches and discovering the beautiful gardens in the center!

The Roses Garden Located below and to the left side of Piazzale Michelangelo facing the city, the Rose Garden is ideal for taking a break from museums while enjoying a marvelous panoramic view of Florence. The best time to visit is in May and June when the over 350 varieties of roses planted here are in bloom. There are also lovely sculptures by Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon  Free entrance. Open year round, from 9am to sunset (ranges from 5pm to 8pm through the year)

The Iris Garden

The iris is the symbol for the city of Florence. With over 200 species, the Iris Garden offers the chance to view the spectacular wonder when the flowers bloom in spring. This generally occurs in May so we suggest you seek this little gem out as part of your visit during this time of year. Located on the hillside right next to Piazzale Michelangelo, you’ll be able to enjoy a wonderful panorama of the city, the flowers and a bit of “countryside” feel. Free entrance
Open from April 25th through May 20th, from10am-12:30pm and 3-7pm http://www.irisfirenze.it

The Bardini Garden

If you are walking along the Arno between Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery and glance across the river, you will see a beautiful terraced garden: this is the Bardini Garden. The beautiful terraces and top “belvedere” offer extraordinary views of Florence, while the villa today hosts both a permanent collection of works by Pietro Annigoni, Roberto Capucci and temporary exhibits year round. There is a nice cafe for refreshments too.

Ticket € 8,  and included in your ticket to the Boboli Gardens, Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-7pm http://www.bardinipeyron.it

Boboli Gardens

These beautiful gardens are spread out over 111 acres and were built over four centuries behind the Palazzo Pitti. They are definitely a break from museums, but themselves house many sculptures, fountains and others works that merit being sought after and admired. While bringing food and picnics are not encouraged, you can still enjoy a discreet snack in the many “hidden” areas of the park. The park hosts centuries-old oak trees, sculptures, fountains and offers peaceful shelter from the warm Florentine sun in summer, the beautiful colors of the changing foliage in the fall and smells of blooming flowers in the spring. The Boboli gardens are a spectacular example of “green architecture”