This garden is the largest private garden in Europe that is wholly inside the city limits. It is about 15 acres and has 2 full time gardeners.
This is a typical view of the city streets that surround the garden.
The 25′ wall is a complete barrier from the outside world for the garden and it creates quietness inside.
The walls and gates were constructed between 1200 and 1300 as the defensive barrier for the city state of Florence before Italy became a country. (Italy became a country in 1861.)
Entry gate
The following is a 1 minute video of the owner talking to our group:
The Torrigiani family has owned this property since 1742 when they started to plant a botanical garden. The garden was finished in 1814.
Unlike the Boboli Garden, most of the Torrigiani Garden is not formal. There are large areas of lawn and many beautiful trees which are very old.
This is one part of the garden that is formal; it is in the NW corner.
The tower was built in 1826 as an accent point for the garden. The owner said that there used to be a library at each level.
INTERESTING PLANTS
Kerria japonica ‘Plenifolia’
Roses
Red Horsechestnut (Aesculus carnea)
Japanese Snowball (Viburnum plicatum)
Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum watereri)
English Yew (Taxus baccata). This is the oldest plant in the garden – about 300 years.
Other places visited today:
SANTA CROCE OPERA CHURCH
This church was built before 1300 and holds the tombs of many famous people: Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Rossini and others.
UFFIZI MUSEUM
(Galleria di Uffizi)
This museum holds masterpieces of the history of western art.
PONTE VECCHIO BRIDGE AND THE ARNO RIVER
