GIARDINO DELLA GHERARDESCA
The 11 acre (4.5 hectare) Giardino della Gherardesca has existed as a garden since the late 15th century, and as a botanical garden for rare and endangered species since the early 19th century. In keeping with the guidelines of the Soprintendenza Per Il Patrimonio Storico Artistico (Superintendant for Artistic Historical Patrimony), Four Seasons has restored the garden to its 19th century Romantic-style – an artistic interlace of paths, lawns and copses punctuated with hillocks and pools. The statues, fountain, small Ionic temple and “Kaffeehaus” that can be found in the garden are all remaining aspects of the original Romantic design.
Many of the botanical specimens brought in during that period still flourish today. Amongst the most striking varieties are Taxus Baccata – a decorative evergreen species renowned as the longest living plant in Europe – and a century old Thuja tree, a hardy, aromatic conifer also known as the ‘tree of life’ for its homeopathic properties. Towering over the profusion of giant trees is an evergreen Sequoia, one of three species known as Redwoods – the tallest trees in the world. The garden also hosts an abundance of colourful Maples and prolific flowering Azaleas.
Throughout the park-like garden, large lawn areas dotted with tiny wildflowers are interspersed with giant trees that provide shade and sectioning to the various areas. A secluded 1000m2 (10764 sq ft.) lawn, well sheltered by foliage, forms just one part of the garden’s extensive capability for outdoor events.
Numerous opportunities exist to wander through the park and enjoy the simpler pleasures in life such as reading in the shade of the ancient trees. The Conventino and Spa and Fitness Centre are located in separate buildings within the grounds, as is ‘La Villa’, a secluded suite set within the convent’s former limonaria – a glasshouse where lemon trees were traditionally stored in winter.
History of Giardino della Gherardesca
Giardino della Gherardesca, first known as Giardino Pinti, was originally designed between 1472 and 1480 following the purchase of the Palazzo by Bartolomeo Scala. The area directly behind the Palazzo was landscaped into a formal Italian-style garden, with the remainder of the 11acre (4.5 hectare) space dedicated to extensive vegetable plots, fruit orchards and a ‘ragnaia’ – an ornate net traditionally used by hunters to capture small birds in the woods.
In the 1820s, Count Guido Alberto Ghererdesca redesigned the garden to create a uniform space that reflected the popular Romantic-style of the time. The project was overseen by Giuseppe Cacialli, Antonio Martini and Ottavio Giovannozzi. The new Romantic design comprised lawns, meadows and wooded copses of various botanical species as well as a lake, Corinthian hunting lodge, Kaffeehaus, Tepidarium, small Ionic and Doric temples, statues, pools and limonaria.
The garden was the first place in Florence to grow mandarin trees, which were imported from Naples in 1844 – a fact alluded to in the manuscripts of renowned 19th century botanist, Antonio Targioni-Tozzetti (1785-1856). In 1857, the garden hosted the 4th Exhibition of the Tuscan Society of Horticulture, cementing its reputation as a haven for rare and exotic botanical specimens.
When the bordering city wall was destroyed in 1870, Count Ugolino Della Gherardesca commissioned architect Giuseppe Poggi to design and build the monumental limestone arched gate and buildings that still border the garden’s northern perimeter. Stones from the city wall were used to create a hillock in the garden, which now rises to a mature wooded retreat from which Hotel guests can experience al fresco hilltop private dining with views across to the Duomo.
Following the destruction of World War II, the garden underwent substantial restoration by Pietro Porcinai, the most distinguished Italian landscapist of the 20th century.
