When you go back downtown after visiting the busy Piazzale Michelangelo, don’t forget to make a stop at the rose garden to enjoy the quiet, read a book or just lie in the grass.

Il Giardino delle Rose covers an area of about an acre and was created by architect Giuseppe Poggi, who also designed the Piazzale Michelangelo located just above the garden. The garden houses over a thousand different plants including more than 350 varieties of roses. Besides the beautiful view over the city it also hosts a permanent exhibition of work by the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon, with among others the must photographed Partir (suitcase with a view of Florence) and the bronze man on the bench that nobody can resist to sit next to.

The garden is always open, except on Christmas and New Year, from 9 am to sunset.