Once a year gardens and courtyard that are normally closed to the public open their doors for a peek of what’s hidden behind the sometimes less than impressive facades. On Sunday May 25th I visited several gardens in the centre of Florence with a guide from Città Nascosta.

The imposing Palazzo Capponi in Via Gino Capponi 26, dates from the first half of the 18th century and was built by the Senator Alessandro Capponi. It can be rented for conferences and parties.

The  most striking element of the beautiful garden is the aviary which is richly decorated with shells, stones and sculptures. The birds have long gone and the aviary now holds a number of apartments that are inhabited.