Pollen and allergies — Firenze
Florence stretches along the Arno valley, where the plain narrows between the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Monte Morello to the west and the hills that rise towards Chianti to the south. Olive groves, vineyards and arable land surround the city: olive growing shapes the Florentine hills and the Valdelsa, while the valley floor holds dense districts, parks and tree-lined avenues.
Periods and allergens to watch
- Late winter and spring: alder and birch can open the tree-pollen calendar; cypress, widespread across Tuscany, marks the same window.
- Spring and summer: grasses grow in meadows, along the Arno and at the edges of the fields; olive flowers in the surrounding countryside between May and June.
- Summer: heat and dry air help pollen stay suspended, and breezes between the valley floor and the hills move it around.
- Late summer: mugwort and ragweed deserve attention near roadsides and land left to spontaneous vegetation.
Florence uses CAMS through Open-Meteo. Concentrations are modeled, not locally measured by this service, at approximately 11 km resolution. The forecast displays alder, birch, grasses, mugwort, olive and ragweed; it does not automatically cover cypress and parietaria, two of the taxa that weigh most in the Tuscan context.
The valley floor holds the air on calm days, while climbing towards Fiesole or the Chianti hills changes altitude, vegetation and local circulation. An hour in the Cascine park does not necessarily match the city-centre value. For comparison with real measurements, regional and national pollen bulletins remain the official reference: treat the model as an area guide and watch your own symptoms before long outdoor activities.