Major festivals include the Explosion of the Cart, when a cart full of fireworks is exploded in front of the Duomo on Easter Sunday; the Feast of St John the Baptist, patron saint of the city, on June 24th; the Gioco del Calcio Storico, featuring football matches played in 16th-century costumes, held in June in Piazza della Signoras and ending with a huge fireworks display over Piazzale Michelangelo. You can expect crowds during these times as each of these events is well attended by Italians and by tourists who time their visits to coincide with these festivals. For a full list of year-round festivals, check out the web site at

http://www.florence.world-guides.com/events.html

. Finally, for lovers of flowers, the Giardino Bardini, a 14th century garden that has rested for 30 years, buried in weeds and neglect, has been restored. A 10-acre site which adjoins the Boboli gardens, it is smaller than Boboli but every bit as seductive. Along with wonderful views, there are grottoes, a temple, an English-styled copse of holly and oak and a Baroque staircase bordered by Bengali roses.

The garden was originally styled in 1309 by the Pope’s Florentine treasurers. In 1913, artist and antiquarian Stefano Bardini purchased the garden. The death of his son in 1965 started a legal tangle ending with a state takeover and a five-year restoration project. It is said the results will charm even those who have no interest in such.

Enjoy Florence. It is one of those rare places that has held onto its past and flung itself full forward into the present and the future. It will leave an indelible impression in your heart and once you’ve been, you’ll want to return to share it with those you love.