Open Day at the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Sunday 14 December a day of music, games and charity events in the Giardino della Gherardesca

On Sunday, December 14, from 10 AM to 4 PM, the Four Seasons Hotel Florence will host a new edition of its Open Day, a charitable event that has become one of the most anticipated moments of the pre-Christmas season in Florence. This cherished tradition, loved by the entire city, features the participation of local restaurants and producers. The event brings the enchanting Giardino della Gherardesca to life with entertainment, a vibrant market, and live music, offering a festive day open to everyone.

A unique opportunity to visit the wonderful Giardino della Gherardesca, which, with its four and a half acres of greenery, represents an oasis of tranquility in the center of Florence. Strolling through the Giardino della Gherardesca is a unique experience: among statues, fountains, the small temple, the Kaffeehaus and groves, the path is a true journey between art and nature, making it hard to believe that you are in the heart of the city, just a few steps from the Arno River.

Created as a botanical garden in the 15th century, the park took shape between 1472 and 1480, when Bartolomeo Scala bought the adjacent palace. In the 19th century, Count Guido della Gherardesca transformed it into a refined romantic garden, enriching it with rare and endangered plants. Among its botanical gems are Taxus Baccata, one of the longest-lived trees in Europe, Thuja, known as “the tree of life,” and towering sequoias. This garden connects two historic buildings: the 15th-century Palazzo della Gherardesca and La Villa, a former 16th-century convent. These spaces have had a varied history, hosting figures such as Lorenzo de' Medici's Prime Minister, popes, nobles, an Egyptian viceroy, and even a railroad company.

Open Day al Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

The open day begins at 10 a.m. when the Santa Claus Company is expected to arrive and perform at 11:30 a.m. The day also celebrates Florentine traditions, featuring a parade by the Historical Procession of the Florentine Republic and a performance by the Flag Throwers of the Uffizi, starting at 10:30 AM. At noon, the Children’s Choir of Florence and Scandicci will perform, followed at 1 PM by a show from the Pupi di Stac puppet theater. At 3 PM, speeches by city officials and Max Musto, General Manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Florence, will take place. Throughout the day, a charity raffle will be held, with the prize draw scheduled for 3 PM.

And you can also taste delicious dishes from numerous Florentine eateries and restaurants present at the Giardino della Gherardesca for this special day. We point out Onde, Trattoria da Burde, Tripperia Pollini, Antico ristoro di Cambi, Caffè dell'Oro, The Fusion Bar & Restaurant. Buca Lapi, Macelleria Fracassi, De' Magi - Alchimia de' Formaggi, Atto di Vito Mollica, Cibrèo Firenze, Guido Guidi, Trattoria Mario, Il Merlo, Fattoria Vaiani, La Pineta Restaurant, Iliopesca, Giovanni Santarpia, Cipriano Pizzeria and the Vivoli ice cream shop.

Open Day al Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

This year’s edition supports AIL Firenze, which is currently involved in the renovation of Casa AIL — the facility that offers free accommodation to patients and their families undergoing treatment in the city’s hospitals — and Pallium OdV, which will allocate the funds raised to the purchase of a portable ultrasound machine for free home healthcare assistance. Minimum donation for entry: €1 per adult.

Access is available via Piazzale Donatello 12 and Borgo Pinti 97. For more information about the Open Day, please contact the Four Seasons Hotel Florence at the provided phone number +39 05526261