Florence Attractions

Venue: Parco delle Cascine    When: Daily

Parco delle Cascine is the biggest public green space in Florence, located on the right bank of the river Arno and bordered by another two waterways, the Mugnone and the Macinate canal.

The park, which takes it name from the term cascina, meaning farmhouse, used to be part of the Medici estate. It was used as a game reserve and for bovine farming until 1737, when the property was turned it into a place for leisure by the Grand-Duchy of Lorraine.

Fifty years later, efforts to create a large park saw the construction of several architectural wonders, including the Little Royal Palace, the Quercione fountain (or Fontana delle Boccacce), the pyramid-shaped ice store and the Pavoniere, two Neoclassical temples used as birdcages.

Further renovation work by architect Felice Francolini took place in the 19th century, and since the beginning of the 20th century the park has hosted sporting activities including horse racing, tennis, target shooting and swimming.

The park has a rich vegetation of cedar trees, elms, pines, horse chestnuts, oaks and other species, and is home to the Faculty of Agricultural Science and the School of Airborne Warfare.