With the arrival of the summer season, Tuscany opens up to a panorama of natural wonders that go far beyond the traditional seaside destinations. If you are looking for an experience surrounded by nature and away from the crowds of the beaches, Tuscan parks are the ideal solution. They are oases of tranquility and beauty, where you can find relief and wonder even if you do not love the sea. Let yourself be transported on green hills, lush gardens and centuries-old woods, while immersing yourself in an atmosphere of peace and serenity.
Choosing the best Tuscan gardens can seem like a difficult task, as each of them is unique and extraordinary in its own way. However, the pleasure of visiting these wonderful environments sweeps away any difficulty; Gardens evolve over time and you can see different aspects of them every time you visit them. Of course they also change depending on the season and it is this ever-changing nature that makes them so attractive.
In this guide, we will take you to discover some of the most extraordinary parks in Tuscany, which offer a perfect combination of natural beauty and art.
Here is our personal top five Tuscan parks.
- Boboli Gardens in Florence
The Boboli Gardens stand like a green jewel behind Palazzo Pitti. Created in the sixteenth century by the Medici family, this garden is a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. As you walk along the tree-lined avenues, you will be enveloped by an atmosphere of serenity and beauty.
The Boboli Gardens is an enchanting place, full of fascinating elements. The fountains will surprise you with their play of water and light, while the statues embellish the landscape with their majesty and the caves invite you to explore suggestive and mysterious corners.
The panoramic terraces of the garden will offer you a spectacular view of the city, enjoying a unique and breathtaking perspective. As you explore this green oasis, you will discover the wonder of a city that embraces natural beauty with the same passion and devotion that it has dedicated to its most celebrated works of art.
- Maremma Regional Park
The Tuscan coast hides a natural paradise, a wild and unspoiled experience to discover. Sand dunes, solitary beaches and Mediterranean scrub come together in direct contact with nature.
Among these wonders, the Maremma Natural Park, known as the "Parco dell'Uccellina", extends for 10,000 hectares along the Tyrrhenian coast. Wild hills and lush pine forests come together in an ever-changing landscape, driven by salty winds.
The park is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including wild boar, fallow deer, roe deer, foxes and birds of prey. To visit it, you can choose routes on foot, on horseback, by bicycle or canoe, guided or independent and night excursions allow you to immerse yourself in the magic of the environment.
The Maremma Natural Park is a natural treasure to be protected and preserved. It is an invitation to explore and enjoy the unspoiled beauty that Tuscany has to offer, a harmonious connection between man and nature.
- Garden of Villa Garzoni in Collodi
The village of Collodi, known for its Villa Garzoni and garden, contains a fascinating history. Before becoming the place of origin of Carlo Lorenzini, creator of Pinocchio, the villa and the garden had already gained fame beyond the borders of the Duchy of Lucca: the latter opens like a magnificent theater, with water games and unique structures. With its Renaissance geometry and the elegance of the nascent Baroque, the garden represents an unparalleled work of art; The vegetation, statues and fountains create a magical atmosphere.
Exploring the wonders of Villa Garzoni, you get lost among caves, green labyrinths, theaters created by boxwood hedges and statues depicting mythological creatures that, together with satyrs, peacocks adorn the path, while bamboo forests frame the environment. Villa Garzoni and its garden represent a combination of history, art and natural beauty.
- Garden La Foce near Montepulciano
The Giardino La Foce, a pearl set in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, offers an iconic view of the Val D'orcia and enchants with its scenographic character of an "Italian garden". Despite having the appearance of a Medici Villa, it was instead created in the twentieth century by Antonio Origo and his wife, the English writer Iris Origo.
Exploring the garden, you will be fascinated by the hidden flower beds, while strolling among the bushes of peonies and roses, next to the delicate wild gladiolus.
This wonderful garden combines the elegance of Italian gardens with the beauty of natural landscapes; The shady paths, flower beds and hilly views create perfect harmony with the surrounding nature.
- National Park of the Casentino Forests
The National Park of the Casentino Forests represents a unique territory in which man has always cohabited and worked: this is evident from the presence of numerous ruins and abandoned villages, scattered throughout the area.
Due to the mass exodus that took place after the Second World War, it currently has about 1,500 inhabitants and, if on the one hand this situation has led to the disappearance of an entire Apennine civilization, together with its precious cultural heritage and its traditions, on the other it has given space to lush forests and a rich biodiversity.
This national park is a true paradise for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts, exploring the forests, mountains and crystal clear rivers, you can admire the extraordinary biodiversity and discover ancient monasteries hidden among the branches of the trees.
Image sources: Wikipedia, Borgo Tramonte, La Foce
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