Looking at the gardens of Florence this week... Behind the unassuming facades of Via de Serragli lies a vast, secret garden – Europe’s largest privately owned green space within an historic centre (7 hectares in area, compared with the Boboli Gardens which are 31 hectares), owned by the Torrigiani Malaspina and Torrigiani di Santa Cristina families. Well-kept and loved, it’s possible to visit this leafy retreat in the engaging company of the charismatic Marquis Vanni Torrigiani Malaspina and his wife Susanna. Tours (in English or Italian) are intimate and proffer a rare glimpse into a very different and privileged Florentine world. Designed at the height of the Romantic movement in the early 19th century, the idyllic oasis of green wrapped around the original 16th-century villa and subsequent early 19th-century house includes rare tree species, wide English-style lawns, herb and vegetables gardens, sculpted lions, a beautifully restored greenhouse, and remains of city walls built under Cosimo I in 1544 (one of six sets of walls to be built around Florence at different times – spot the segment of older, 14th century walls outside the garden). The garden design is laden with complex Masonic symbology, climaxing with an elegant neo-Gothic tower spiralling to the heavens; the three levels allude to the three stages of the initiation process from the profane world to the initiation of Freemasonry. In the recently restored greenhouse and Italian garden known collectively as La Serra Torrigiani Vanni, the marquis Vanni and Susanna run horticultural, gardening and painting courses and workshops. In the future they hope to build a trio of treehouses for guests to sleep B&B style. Put the Torrigiani Garden on your list of must-dos in Florence! (Lonely Planet)
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 05:30:00 +0000
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