The seasonal opening of the Giardino dell’Iris is underway, offering free access to one of Florence’s lesser-known botanical spaces overlooking the city.

Prosecutors say the project near the Arno river was approved on the basis of a false landscape authorisation and did not comply with planning rules.

The measure aims to cope with rising demand during the tourist season, with additional shifts and new services planned.

City officials and heritage authorities clash over a telecom installation in viale Belfiore, visible from key viewpoints of Florence’s historic skyline.