The History in Florence and the Florentine Lily
The Florentine Lily is the coat of arms in Florence, the red lily, derives from the iris Florentine of very diffused white color in the territory. 1251 ds. C. it goes up again the inversion of color and the adoption of the red lily in white field, that white in red field remained to the ghibellinis (1200-1300 struggles between guelfi and ghibellini - evolution of the town age to Florence - Giving exiled Alighieri ghibellino 1302). The coat of arms in Florence withstands in the centuries, in the historical periods, in the governments of the city of Florence, and the Florentines have always wanted their native symbol the Florentine lily.
To admire the flower in Florence is possible to visit the garden of the Iris, that is reached crossing the avenue of the Necks in direction Florence. The entry, turning the shoulders to the David, it is on the left of the square Michelangelo, to the beginning of the pedestrian run that coasts along the avenue of the Necks up to Ferrucci plaza. The garden of the Iris is visitable in May, the month of the flowering of the "lily" or "iris", coat of arms of the city. The garden of the Iris welcomes around 2500 varieties of this flower that, probably for its launchings and vivacious colors he/she took the name from the goddess Iris, the messaggera of the gods that loosening its scarf formed the rainbow. The iris is the white flower of the fields, diffused in the valley of the Arno and on the whole territory and you/he/she is represented of red color in the coat of arms in Florence.
The lily as symbol in Florence it was select in the second halves the XII° century. In effects Fiorenza was not able that to be represented by a flower and the most diffused flowers in heraldry they were the rose and, note, the lily. The Florentine lily of the gonfalone was originally white on red background; you/he/she was changed in red on white background from the guelfis in 1266 as sign of victory on the ghibellinis. The botanical name of the lily in Florence is Iris florentina. The iris not by chance appears in the coat of arms of the city because it plentifully grows in the fields that surround her/it. Mythology narrates that the lily was born from a drop of milk fallen by the breast of Giunone while he/she was nursing the small Ercole. The meaning of the lily is, therefore, that of the purity and of the chastity. The abundance and the beauty of the flowers did yes that the Florentines ended up growing fond to the Iris and to associate him/it to their city life; what the iris and not the lily is the emblem in Florence it also attests him/it his/her name botanical Iris Florentina. Red in white or white field in red field, according to the dominant political party, it was always the only valid symbol of the city and in his/her sign Florence conquered the liberty and the honor.
To see the other Gardens in Florence.
