If you walk the streets of Florence on a sunny day, you'll see a recurring symbol on historic buildings, manhole covers, and even garbage trucks. It's the Florentine Lily. But did you know that "lily" isn't actually a lily?
Today, we discover the history of the city's symbolic flower and an incredible, enchanting place that opens its doors for only a few weeks a year: the Iris Garden.
A Botanical Error That Became Legend
The first thing to learn is a little secret: the symbol of Florence is technically an Iris (botanically Iris Germanica Fiorentina). In the Middle Ages, this plant grew wild along the city walls and in the Arno Valley.
The connection between the flower and the city is ancient, but the colors have changed for political reasons: originally, the city of Florence's symbol was a white flower on a red background. After 1251, following the many battles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, the victorious Guelphs decided to reverse the colors to distinguish themselves from their exiled enemies. Since then, the official symbol has been the Red Lily on a white field.
Linguistic curiosity: Although botanically it is an iris, Florentines affectionately call it "Il Giglio" (The Lily).
The Iris Garden: A Limited-Time Treasure
There is a place in Florence that is shrouded in mystery for much of the year. It is located right next to Piazzale Michelangelo, but is protected by a gate that remains closed for eleven months of the year.
The Iris Garden opens only in May (this year from April 25th to May 20th). Why? Because it is the flower's blooming season, and the Italian Iris Society wants to showcase the garden in its full splendor. If you go there, you can look up and see Brunelleschi's Dome rising on the horizon. It's one of the most beautiful photo spots in the city.
Walking along the paths of this hillside garden, you won't just find the classic purple iris. There are over 1,500 varieties of irises from all over the world.
The Iris Garden was founded in 1954 to host an annual international competition for the best iris varieties, the "Firenze Prize." Every year, botanists from all over the world send their bulbs to Florence to participate in this prestigious competition.
The Iris of Florence: Although the city's color is purple, you can admire the original variety of the Florentine iris, a pure white with blue hues.
Why visit if you study Italian?
Visiting the Iris Garden is not just a tourist activity, but an immersion in "Florence." Here are three reasons why every student at our school should attend:
- Vocabulary enrichment: You'll learn terms related to nature, colors (indigo, lilac, crimson), and medieval history.
- Contact with locals: The garden is managed by passionate volunteers who love to tell anecdotes about the city. It's the perfect opportunity to practice conversation!
- Study break: After hours of grammar and irregular verbs, there's nothing better than the scent of flowers and the silence of a hidden garden to recharge the mind.
If you're in Florence in spring, don't miss this opportunity. The Iris Garden is like the Italian language: elegant, colorful, and rich in history.
Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Florence
