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Rose lovers - hie thee to florence - rose gardens open 15 May to 30 June.

Rose lovers - hie thee to florence - rose gardens open 15 May to 30 June.

Old May 16th, 2011, 10:04 PM
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Rose lovers - hie thee to florence - rose gardens open 15 May to 30 June.

I know that I've already got 2 threads open, one about my italian trip, and another about my yorkshire trip, which someone suggested was a bit greedy, but after yesterday, i just could not resist posting this for any who may be in/near florence in the next 6 weeks and who loves gardens and/or roses.

In my researches, i had come across mention of the rose garden [actually in the fodder's 2010 guide to Italy] but not given it a lot of thought. Then yesterday, after my perambulations had taken me up to the piazzale michelangelo, I thought that i might try to find it, but the signs gave me no clue, and I'd almost given up. Finally, on my way down from the church at the very top, I came across it quite by accident.

and I am so glad that it did - it was glorious. just heavenly. loads and loads of roses, climbers, ramblers, bedding roses and a lots of really old varieties and species, all in more or less full bloom so the scent was fantastic. and very well kept - far more so than the botanical gardens I'd seen earlier in the day [yes, I'm a bit of a garden nut, can you tell?] I spent a good hour wandering round, sitting, admiring the blooms and the fabulous view over the doom, and looking at the very many different varieties [all named, and so far as I could tell, accurately]. Unusually, you are allowed onto the grass so you really can admire the blooms, see what the varieties are, and best of all, smell the perfume of the flowers.

to get to it, if you are standing above Piazzale Michelangelo to the right of the pizza restaurant/gelateria below the Franciscan church that overlooks the valley, head straight down. After about 5 minutes walk, you will find the rose gardens on your right.once you have finished your visit, and can bear to tear yourself away, if you walk through them exiting by the gate that goes straight into the road, and then turn left and right, that will bring you down under the old gate in the city walls that leads in to Oltrano. If you are in need of refreshment, the wine bar just before you get there on the left called Fuori Porta ["outside the walls"] is very nice, and IME, unlike that of the fodors reviewer, the staff were very nice and helpful too! Glasses of wine from €4 each, [quite a good choice of wines by the glass but their wine-list is VERY extensive] and a limited menu of bruschetta, crostini and some pastas starting at €3 or so.

I can also recommend the very nice bar just below Piazzale Michelangelo to the left of the main steps - the one with the fabulous views. i initially rejected it though i was very thirsty from my walk up the hill, but I didn't fancy an overpriced gelato, so i sat down under an umbrella anyway and had a medium beer [which came with a little bowl of crisps] for €7. ok, not cheap, but they are charging €5 in the bars down in town and with it, you get to "rent" the view for the time it takes you to drink up. Which in my case was quite a long time!

I'd be interested to hear/read and other fodorites who make it to the rose garden this year. it really is worth the effort!
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Old May 16th, 2011, 11:00 PM
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bookmarked! I'm a rose lover (well actually any flowers really). i will be in florence this coming month of June so I will definitely check out this rose garden . Thanks annhig!
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Old May 17th, 2011, 12:04 AM
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I almost asked if you had been to Fuori Porta on your other thread, glad to see you liked it too!
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Old May 17th, 2011, 04:02 AM
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One day I will go there. I too love gardens. I was thinking the other day of your trip to Yorkshire and the bishop's garden where you glimpsed the flowering fruit trees behind a wall. You mentioned that those were the essence of spring to you. As our fruit trees blossom here, I realize that for me too, the fruit trees, which come and go so quickly, are a sure spring sight and smell.

Thanks for sharing your travels.
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Old May 17th, 2011, 04:20 AM
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Annhig, I want to thank you for "being greedy" by posting this information. We are leaving tomorrow to go to Rome, and will be in Tuscany from Sunday until next Friday. I love roses, too, and will do my best to find this garden.
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Old May 17th, 2011, 04:56 AM
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Then you'll probably also enjoy Rome's Roseto Comunale near Via di Valle Murcia and the Circo Massimo... but be careful not to disturb the South American squatters!

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/122453238

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Old May 17th, 2011, 06:47 AM
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lol - no SA squatters in the Florence version.

I found another lovely garden today - the gardini barbini. it too is in Oltarno, in fact it links in with the Boboli, so you can get from one to the other. it was particularly attractive as i had been walking for ages trying to find somewhere to eat and have a loo stop, and the cafe provided both with another fabulous view over florence.

it is on quite a sharp incline, so they have turned that to their advantage with terraces, a cascade, a grass theatre, azalea walks, and several grottos. The leaflet they give you tells you have to get through to the boboli but I can't guarantee it as I've seen them before and i couldn't bear the thought of having to trudge past the Pitti Palace again on my way back [I'd already done it once!]

Skye and bellarosa - glad to have helped!

well worth the €6 to get in, especially as i remember the bobble alone being €8 each last time. The first known example of the cost of something going down in Florence.
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Old May 22nd, 2011, 09:08 AM
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Hi Annhig,
the rose gardens sound lovely! I was wondering if you know what the opening times are?
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Old May 23rd, 2011, 01:46 PM
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ooh - now you're asking. look and ye shall find:

http://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca...vori-16288702/

i haven't read it all, but the headlines are that they have just re-opened it after two years and lots of euros, and the hours are 8 - 8 every day.

hope you find time to go - it was really lovely.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2013, 03:44 PM
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This sounds beautiful! The VERY specific directions you give are much appreciated. A must do since we will be there at the right time of year. Thanks for sharing this!
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Old Mar 3rd, 2013, 04:03 PM
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Thank u so much- we are going to florence in june and I love roses. Have many, many in my garden! Will def check it out!
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Old Mar 4th, 2013, 09:02 AM
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darlene/caroline - my pleasure.

i just came across it by chance, which made it special, but I'd hate others to miss it.
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Old May 7th, 2013, 06:05 AM
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I'll be there in less than 2 weeks! I'm goin' huntin' for this garden. (Though I prefer carnations to roses, I'm "easy" when it comes to gardens of any kind. hahaha)
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Old May 7th, 2013, 06:51 AM
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Sarge - if you go up to San Miniato, from the Piazzale Michelangelo, and then walk straight down towards the city, it is straight ahead of you by a restaurant/gelateria than overlooks Oltrarno. That's how I came across it.

alternatively just walk up the main road from the Piazzale and you'll find it on your left.

in fact, looking at google maps it's shown there, just to the west of the Piazzale.
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Old May 7th, 2013, 07:16 AM
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PS - don't miss San Miniato, and don't forget to have some euro change on you [50c and €1 pieces] to put into the machines in the churches in both Rome and Florence to turn on the lights to illuminate the mosaics.
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