The Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli) are located on the hill of the same name in Florence on the left bank of the Arno River. They form an integral part of the magnificent Palazzo Pitti complex, once owned by the Medici family, and span an impressive 450,000 square meters (111 acres).
I adore visiting medieval palace gardens. I have already told you about the Wilanow palace and its gardens in Warsaw and about the Miramare castle in Trieste and its beautiful sea garden.
We dedicated an entire afternoon to the Boboli Gardens in Florence. Although we were not there at the best time to visit – it was late autumn at the end of November without any flowers in bloom, the gardens fascinated me with their neat sectors, well-shaped alleys, statues, fountains and magnificent views of the central parts of the city.
In this article I’d like to show you a small part of the beauty that we saw during the long walk and give you valuable first-hand advice for visiting the Boboli Gardens.
Why visit the Boboli Gardens
Besides the Boboli gardens are part of the Florence history, they are a real refreshing contrast, especially if you have already visited several Florence’s museums. There you will enjoy:
- A harmony of art and nature;
- Elegant statues scattered among the greenery;
- Fountains adding charm and coolness;
- Touches of beautiful, cultivated nature;
- Landscape architecture blending with the setting;
- Wonderful panoramas over Florence as a backdrop.
In brief about the Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens were built for Eleanor of Toledo, the wife of Cosimo I de’ Medici. Their construction began in 1550, and prominent artists such as Niccolò Tribolo, Bartolomeo Amanati, Giorgio Vasari and Bernardo Buontalenti worked on their design and implementation.
The gardens lack a natural water source, and a pipeline was built for irrigation, fed by the Arno River.
The Boboli are a prominent example of an Italian garden and later served as inspiration for many European courtyards. For a long time, people outside the Medici family were not allowed in the gardens. They were opened to the public in 1766. Read more here.
Nowadays, the Boboli Gardens have been transformed into an open-air museum of garden architecture. In addition to the abundant vegetation, you can see Roman antiquities and sculptures from the 16th and 17th centuries. In addition, you can see several exquisite fountains.
Useful information
The Boboli Gardens are located in the central part of Florence behind the Pitti Palace, just after the Ponte Vecchio. The ticket for visiting costs about 10 euros and can be purchased in advance here. I advise you to buy a combined ticket for the gardens, Pitti Palace and Uffizi Gallery. This is the most profitable way.
Have a look here for prices and availability.
Opening hours are every day between 8:15 to 16:30 (or 18:30) depending on the season.
I advise you to plan at least 2-3 hours for visiting the Boboli Gardens.
Our visit in the Boboli Gardens in Florence
My first look at the Boboli Gardens was from the windows of Palazzo Pitti. The picture was wonderful. I saw the fountain, embraced by the palace and the large amphitheater.
After looking at the exhibitions in the palace, we headed to the gardens. In many places in them there were maps with the most important objects. You can see and download a digital version the Boboli Gardens map on the official website here.
We continued up the main lane through the amphitheater.
Further up the path, we enjoyed the Neptune fountain. It was under repair and wasn’t pouring water. However, the lake around the main sculpture was full and there were lots of fish swimming in it.
After the fountain, we climbed up to hunt for views of a panoramic terrace and the Cavaliers’ Pavilion next to it.
Then we headed down to the lake with the island, moving slightly in a zig-zag motion to see as much of the park, sculptures, and alleys as possible.
Along part of the northern park wall, we walked along another interesting fountain – the Fountain of the Little Muzzles. Unfortunately, the Fountain of the Little Muzzles was completely without water and at its very top, at the first muzzle, we were unable to recognize it, but as soon as we came across the second muzzle, we realized it was just this.
We paid special attention to a lake with an island in the middle (Vasca del Isola). Ducks were swimming in the lake, and a very beautiful grey heron was perched on the side. It stood completely still for a long time, and from a distance she looked like part of the sculptural ensemble. As we approached, it began to turn its head left and right, but continued to stand there as part of the landscape.
After the lake with the island, we headed back to the Pitti Palace along the southern alley. Along the way we saw the Orange House and a huge bathtub.
We spent 3-4 hours enjoining the Boboli Gardens.
Final thoughts
After visiting so many museums in Florence with valuable paintings and sculptures, the Boboli Gardens were something different and yet exquisite – a harmony of fine statues, fountains, bits of beautiful nature and landscape architecture against a backdrop of wonderful panoramas. It is worth taking a long walk along their alleys.
