The beautiful Rose Garden in Florence is located on the slope of the hill in the Otrarno, just below Piazzale Michelangelo. While the views are spectacular all year round, this garden is at its best in May, when the roses are in full bloom.

It’s made even more special by the series of statues by Folon magically interacting with this natural space .

Exploring the Rose Garden in Florence

Would you like to experience a sea of fragrant roses, with one of the best views of Florence in the background? Then the Rose Garden is the perfect spot for you.

This terraced garden is beautifully laid out below Piazzale Michelangelo, the panoramic terrace that overlooks Florence. From here you can experience one of the most exceptional panoramas of the city.

If you’re visiting Florence in May, you’re in for a treat. Lovely temperatures make it the perfect to spend time outdoors and enjoy Florence’s green areas. And of course, May is when the Rose Garden makes a gorgeous show of its abundant blooms and colours.

Over 4 hundred varieties of roses – plus lemons and other plants – embellish this one hectare green space, that was first opened to the public in 1895. The terraced garden perfectly complements Florence’s views, especially the Cathedral Dome and Palazzo Vecchio that stand out above the expanse of red roofs.

You can relax at one of the benches, take a romantic stroll admiring the view of Florence below, and relax surrounded by the delightful scents of hundreds of multicoloured roses. Camera’s at the ready!

A small area is dedicated to the Japanese-style garden created by architect Yasuo Kitayama, a gift to Florence by one of its twin cities, Kyoto.

NB -> there’s no bar or cafè in the garden, so you might want to take some refreshments with you if want to spend some time here.

=> 12 Amazing Hilltop Towns in Tuscany to Visit!

Art in the Rose Garden, Florence – Folon statues

If you need another reason to venture up here, you can check out the eleven statues by Folon among the plants. The Belgian artist had a deep connection with the city of Florence, and when he died, his widow followed his wishes and donated some of his sculptures (created between 1993 and 2005) to Florence.

One of the most photographed is ‘Partir’, the empty frame of a suitcase ready to be filled with Florence’s view. Among the favourite, ‘Envol’, a hatted figure who’s about to take flight, or ‘Je me souviens’, a man sitting on a bench with a book in his hand, that looks ready to start a conversation with whoever happens to sit next to him. Or ‘Chat’, a big bronze cat sleeping in the midst of the roses, and the enigmatic ‘Chat-oiseau‘.

=> See more Gardens with a View in Florence.

How to get to the Rose Garden in Florence

The Rose Garden address: One entrance is in Viale Poggi 2 – another entrance is where Via dei Bastioni meets Via Monte alle Croci – see the precise geolocation.

It’s open all year round, expect on 1st January – from 9am to sunset.

Free Entrance

To get to the Rose Garden, you can walk up the hill via the panoramic Le Rampe, starting from Porta San Niccolò (it’s a steep walk, and takes around 20 minutes). Or get the bus 12 or 13 from Santa Maria Novella train station to the Piazzale Michelangelo, and from there it’s a few minutes walk downhill to the Rose Garden.

We don’t advise driving up to the garden, as the area of Piazzale Michelangelo is always quite busy and parking is scarce.

Remember the garden is steeply terraced with ramps, and though you can access with pushchairs, it may present difficulties to those with limited mobility.

A bit of history

The Rose Garden was created in 1865, at the time when Florence briefly became Capital of Italy. This whole area was redesigned by architect Giuseppe Poggi that gave life to the avenues immersed in the green (Viale Poggi) that go up the San Miniato hill, and designed the magnificent terrace overlooking the city, Piazzale Michelangelo.

The rose garden was then opened to the public in 1895.

What to see nearby

Piazzale Michelangelo is the perfect spot to grab great shots of Florence.

The other magnificent garden on the other side of Piazzale Michelangelo is the Iris Garden, open every year between 25th April and 20th May.

If you’re in this area, don’t miss a visit to San Miniato al Monte Church. One of Florence’s most ancient churches, its luminous facade invites the visitors to explore the magnificent interior, the Medieval marble pavement and frescoes.

=> My Secret Florence: Hidden Gems in the City of the Renaissance

=> Top Things to Do in Florence in Spring

=> Top 10 Art Museums in Florence

Author: Sabrina Nesi, founder of Lovefromtuscany.com, passionate about sharing the beauty of Tuscany and Italy with the world.

Disclaimer: some links to tours and services on this site will earn us affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. The small commission we earn help us keeping the site going, thanks for reading! 🙂