There’s a green corner in the heart of Florence that has survived throughout the centuries. Now it is open to those who want to enjoy a drink or bite to eat in a natural, historical setting like none other in the world. This place is Giardino Torrigiani, seven hectares of well-kept green space tucked in between the San Frediano and Santo Spirito neighborhoods, a 15-minute walk from the Hotel Principe.
Like so many places in Florence, its history is long. As a botanical garden, it has been famed since the 16th century, and then, in the 19th century, it became the property of the Marquis Pietro Torrigiani, who expanded it buying the surrounding lands to turn it into a magnificent romantic English park in keeping with the tastes of the day. Thanks to his redesign, those who walked its paths lined by the branches of grand trees would embark on a romantic journey on which they might have glimpsed deer and roebuck, all while protected from the heat that would bear down on Florence in the summers (as it does today). You can rediscover this same route today on an exclusive tour led by the current Marquis Torrigiani (for appointments, www.giardinotorrigiani.it).
But the garden is not the only treasure you’ll find here. Within the garden are two completely restored gems, including the Serra Storica (“Old Greenhouse”), from the 19th century, which still has its original structure. Its great glass roof rests on a base of pietra serena, and its windows overlook an Italian garden of more than 1,000 square meters. Here in addition to magnificent trees and flower beds resplendent with new colors every season, there are two large pools featuring fountains and water lilies. With its 200 square meters and terracotta floor, the greenhouse is home to historical plants in large terracotta pots. Then there’s the Serra Grande, 550 square meters of iron and metal, which dates to the latter 20th century and is home to lush plants.
In this cool, green space we also find Serre Torrigiani bistro and lounge bar featuring an open-air restaurant that serves creative cuisine rooted in Tuscan tradition with plenty of room for international influences. The garden and the cafe come together here in a beautiful union that makes for a unique dining experience as the drinks and dishes are enhanced by some of the many aromatic herbs grown in the garden, distant descendants of those of centuries past.
Live music concerts, art exhibitions, meetings, talks about current issues, and performances by national and international artists are also organized in its spaces.
