Florence’s Horticultural Garden: History and What to See Today

Discover one of the city’s most beautiful green oases, where botany meets architecture, featuring the famous Tepidarium del Roster and the Plant and Flower Market

In Florence, between Via Vittorio Emanuele II and Via Bolognese, the Giardino dell’Orticoltura is one of the city’s most fascinating historic parks. A place where botany, architecture, and culture have come together for over 150 years, it has become a destination beloved by both Florentines and visitors alike.

Loggia del giardino dell’Orticoltura (ph. Ottavia Poli)

The Origins of the Horticultural Garden

The garden’s history began in 1854, the year the Tuscan Horticultural Society was founded with the aim of promoting the study and dissemination of botanical sciences. The first plant collections arrived thanks to donations from prominent Tuscan agronomists and horticulturists, as well as from major scientific institutions such as the Museum of Physics and Natural History and the Giardino dei Semplici. From its very beginnings, the Giardino dell’Orticoltura was conceived as a space for botanical experimentation, destined to become over time one of the city’s most important historic gardens.

The Roster Tepidarium: Symbol of the Garden

The true symbol of the park is the famous Roster Tepidarium, designed by engineer and architect Giacomo Roster and inaugurated in 1880. The structure was built for the first national horticultural exhibition organized by the Italian Horticultural Federation. The Tepidarium was conceived as a large heated greenhouse, intended to house exotic plants in a controlled environment. A masterpiece of 19th-century iron and glass architecture, it is often compared to Joseph Paxton’s famous Crystal Palace in London.

Its dimensions are impressive: 38.5 meters long, 17 meters wide, 14 meters high in the central nave, and over 650 square meters in area.

GIARDINO DELL’ORTICOLTURA

The structure consists of cast-iron columns, a layered glass roof, and ventilation and heating systems that were innovative for the time. Inside, decorative elements inspired by the grottoes of the Boboli Gardens and a panoramic gallery complete the spectacular setting. The Tepidarium of the Horticultural Garden is considered the largest 19th-century greenhouse in Italy and one of the largest in Europe.

In addition to its original botanical function, over time it has become a multifunctional cultural space, hosting art exhibitions, cultural events, concerts, and temporary exhibitions.

Even today, it remains one of the most evocative venues for events in Florence.

The Giardino dell’Orticoltura Today

In 1930, the garden was purchased by the City of Florence and transformed into a public park, becoming a space open to the public. Among the most significant additions of the 20th century is the striking snake-shaped fountain, built in 1990 based on a design by architect Marco Dezzi Bardeschi, located in the most scenic part of the garden.

Next to the Tepidarium are the historic Loggetta Bondi (1911) by architect Castellucci, green spaces and tree-lined paths, and a playground equipped for children.

Giardino dell'Orticoltura (ph. Pasquale Paradiso)

Plant and Flower Fair at the Giardino dell’Orticoltura

One of the most anticipated events at Florence’s Giardino dell’Orticoltura is the historic Plant and Flower Fair, organized by the Società Toscana d'Orticoltura. The event takes place twice a year, in the spring and fall, and transforms the garden into a large exhibition space dedicated to the world of greenery, horticulture, and landscape culture. The event is not just a plant and flower market, but a true cultural project. The Società Toscana d'Orticoltura promotes activities that combine outreach, education, and environmental awareness.

During the Market Exhibition, visitors can find over 75 exhibitors, including flower growers, nursery owners, fruit growers, and green artisans; ornamental, rare, and collectible plants; specialized gardening products; and talks and workshops dedicated to botanical culture. The goal is to bring the general public closer to green care and sustainability, promoting greater environmental awareness.

This edition takes place from April 25 to May 3, with free admission, from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, at the Giardino dell’Orticoltura (Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 4 / Via Bolognese, 17 – Florence).