Bardini Gardens (Giardino Bardini) Tours

Located behind Fort Belvedere just steps from the Arno River, Bardini Garden is considered one of Florence’s top lesser-known sights. In addition to a 17th-century villa that houses a museum, café, and terrace with panoramic views of the city, the garden features 10 acres (4 hectares) of pastures, a famed wisteria canopy, and six fountains.

The Basics
Bardini Garden is best known for its Italian Renaissance style and meandering walkways lined with floral displays, benches, picnic areas, and vistas. Keep an eye out for the garden’s two defining features: a baroque staircase and a photo-worthy canopy of purple wisteria. Both lead to the 17th-century Bardini Villa, which now houses temporary cultural exhibitions, a museum dedicated to Florentine painter Pietro Annigoni, and La Loggia café.

Book a walking tour of Bardini Garden for local insight into its 900 years of history and design, as well as the families who once owned and gardened its grounds. Combined walking tours of the Bardini and Boboli gardens save time and money, while private tours of the city’s many gardens offer a more intimate and comprehensive perspective of Florence.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Plenty of space to play and picnic makes Bardini Garden a popular destination for visiting and local families.
• Avoid the crowds at Piazzale Michelangelo and head to Bardini Garden for an alternative panoramic view of Florence.
• Save time and money on admission when you purchase a combined Boboli and Bardini gardens ticket.
• La Loggia di Villa Bardini, open from April to October, offers a range of light meal options on a terrace overlooking the city.
• While the garden grounds are not suitable for wheelchairs, the villa and café are wheelchair accessible; call in advance for assistance.

How to Get There
Florence’s Bardini Garden is a 10-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio and a 5-minute walk from the Boboli Gardens, and is best accessed on foot. The garden has two entrances: one on Via de' Bardi if walking from the Ponte Vecchio or Arno River, and the other on Costa San Giorgio if walking from Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens. Alternatively, take bus 23 to Ponte Alle Grazie. If driving, free parking is available at Fort Belvedere.

When to Get There
Bardini Garden rarely feels overly crowded. The garden and café are open daily from 8:15am until early evening (closing times are seasonal; check online before your visit) and are closed on the first and last Monday of every month. While stunning views of the city are accessible year-round, the famed wisteria canopy is in full bloom from mid-April to early May.

The Bardini Namesake
Florentine connoisseur and art dealer Stefano Bardini rescued the garden’s grounds from ruin in the late 19th century. Known to his friends as a connoisseur with an eye for eccentric art, Bardini dedicated his life to collecting antiques and artifacts that he mixed and matched into unchronological displays. Stop at the museum on Via dei Renai before heading up to Bardini’s villa and the grounds he carefully restored to natural beauty.