Boboli Gardens in Florence (Giardino di Boboli)

Boboli Gardens: What to See in Florence

The Boboli Gardens is the beautiful Italian-style park of Palazzo Pitti and one of Italy’s most extensive and elegant gardens. Let’s discover the history of this Renaissance park, considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. Let us embark on a spectacular walk through its avenues adorned with fountains, caves, monuments, and splendid scenery.

History of the Boboli Gardens

The expansive Boboli Gardens are located on the other side of the Arno River and can be reached from the historic center of Florence by crossing the Ponte Vecchio. The magnificent park of Palazzo Pitti extends up the hill, reaching the Forte Belvedere.

The origin of its name is highly debated. Some argue that it derives from the Borgolo family, who had their gardens here. However, in 1418, the Pitti family acquired the property and built the grand Palazzo Pitti, later inhabited by the Medici, the House of Lorraine, and even the Savoy. The construction of this masterpiece lasted over four centuries, and ongoing efforts are made to maintain its beauty.

Visiting the Boboli Gardens

There are several entrances to the Boboli Gardens. In addition to the main entrance from the Palazzo Pitti courtyard, one at the Porta Romana square, one near the Annalena Building, and finally, one on the side of the Forte Belvedere.

The park’s description begins at the entrance of Palazzo Pitti, precisely from the Ammannati Courtyard. It continues towards the arena, climbs the hill, and follows the Viottolone path to the Isola Pond (Vasca dell´Isola Island´s Pond, Harpy´s Fountain). The second part explores the area towards the Forte Belvedere and concludes with the Buontalenti Grotto, where the exit is located.

The Moses Grotto in Boboli

Many artificial grottoes are created within the Boboli Gardens to provide the court with evocative and unexpected corners. The Moses Grotto is located in front of the inner courtyard of Palazzo Pitti. However, what makes it unique is the terrace above it, where the Artichoke Fountain ( Carciofo ) is situated.

The cave is named after the red porphyry statue of Moses, embedded in a niche and separated from the oval basin by a railing. Three little cherubs play and clash in the fountain with the central water jet, creating a playful sight.

Around the cave, you can also see columns and four niches with sculptures of virtues. A pergola with a blue sky and the allegory of Fame decorates the grotto’s vault.

The Artichoke (Carciofo) Fountain

After passing through the courtyard, a slightly uphill path borders a garden of boxwood hedges and colorful flowers. Continuing along the path, you will reach the level of the Artichoke Fountain, located on the roof of the Moses Grotto. The fountain was designed to be highly visible from the noble floor of Palazzo Pitti and is not accessible to the public, as it is isolated from the building.

The Artichoke (Carciofo) Fountain got its name because it used to have a bronze lily on top, reminiscent of this vegetable. It was commissioned by Grand Duke Ferdinand I in 1642, and the architect utilized pre-existing architectural elements in the park.

This artwork is situated on a set of steps and has an octagonal shape. Sculptures of tritons and nymphs support the two basins from which the water spouts. Twelve cupids with bows and arrows are arranged on the fountain’s edge, and additional shell-shaped bays with various decorations are located on three sides. The marble plaque also commemorates the arrival.

Before this fountain, however, there was already another one. It was the Fountain of Juno, designed by Bartolomeo Ammannati and commissioned by Cosimo I in 1555. It celebrated the arrival of the first aqueduct in Florence, although initially intended for the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio. When it was replaced with the Artichoke Fountain, many architectural elements were placed in the park, and they are currently preserved in the National Bargello Museum.

AMPHITHEATER OF THE BOBOLI GARDEN

Admiring the garden towards the hill, you come across the so-called amphitheater located precisely in front of the rear facade of Palazzo Pitti. The stones used for the construction of Palazzo Pitti were extracted from Boboli Hill, and in the medieval period, they were even used to pave the streets of Florence.

Given the long history of the Boboli Gardens, many architects and sculptors were involved in its design, each with their style and taste. The main ones are Niccolò Tribolo, Bartolomeo Ammannati, Bernardo Buontalenti, and Giorgio Vasari.

At its construction around 1550, it was essentially a “verzura” arena, with various terraces featuring trees and fruit plants. In a later period, walls and grandstands were added, adorned with niches, classical statues, stone vases, and small temple-shaped structures. During that time, the amphitheater was a place of celebration, such as the coronation of Vittoria della Rovere, wife of Ferdinando II. The theater also hosted theatrical performances and horse shows.

The arrival of the House of Lorraine brought further changes, and the seating area was demolished to make way for the extensive lawns still visible today. The tall Egyptian obelisk, over six meters high and made of pink granite, located at the center, dates back to the Time of Ramesses II in the 13th century BC. Initially, it adorned the Medici villa in Rome, but a replica now stands. The nearby gray granite basin is also very ancient but was only placed in the park in 1840.

BOBOLI’S ICE HOUSES – GHIACCIAIE DI BOBOLI

Walking along the uphill paths towards the Fountain of Neptune, you can immerse yourself in various points and explore the side paths that lead through the cool vegetation. Turning to the right, you will quickly come across two particular ice houses in Boboli Gardens.

These cylindrical structures were built in the 1600s on existing systems, with one being more significant. They were essentially the “refrigerators” of the Time and were used to keep food and beverages cool throughout the year, especially in summer. One popular trend back then was consuming a kind of sorbet, hence the need for ice.

The icehouses consisted of an upper chamber where ice harvested from winter watercourses was stored and covered with straw to keep it as long as possible. As it started to melt, the water, which maintained a low temperature of about five degrees, reached the lower chamber through wall channels.

Side niches stored food and drinks and interacted with the basins that collected this icy water. Once a certain level was reached, the water flowed towards Palazzo Pitti to be used as drinking water and for cooling environments, especially in summer.

Icehouses lasted until the 19th century when they were converted into water reservoirs as preservation and refrigeration methods had changed.

MEADOW OF THE CHESTNUT (CASTAGNI) TREES

Continuing the uphill walk, you will reach the Meadow of the Chestnut Trees, a very convenient place to relax and regain strength. You can enjoy a beautiful view from the “panoramic terrace” overlooking Palazzo Pitti, the Palazzina della Meridiana, and the white marble sculpture of Pegasus. Located at the end of a sloping meadow, it represents today’s symbol of the Tuscany Region.

TINDARO BY IGOR MITORAJ IN BOBOLI

One of the modern sculptures visible

In the Boboli Gardens is “Cracked Tindaro or Tindaro screpolato” by Igor Mitoraj. This Polish artist, who lived many years in Italy, donated this bronze sculpture to Florence during his exhibition in 1998. It represents Tindaro, the king of Sparta, a mythological character described by Homer in the Iliad. The sculptor was known for drawing inspiration from the classical world for his heroic heads, faces, and busts symbolizing perfect beauty.

VIOTTOLONE OF THE BOBOLI GARDEN

The Viottolone is the secondary axis of the Boboli Gardens, extending towards Porta Romana. Built between the 17th and 18th centuries, cypress trees flank it, and other avenues intersect it, such as the Platanus Avenue, branching out on both sides amidst groves of evergreen oaks.

Also known as Cypress Avenue, it has a steep slope and ends with the decorative pavement of the Wind Rose, made of colored pebbles. Many marble sculptures are present, some of which also symbolize popular pastimes, such as the game of the phytolacca.

CERCHIATE AND RAGNAIE

The intersecting paths are called Cerchiate Grandi and piccole, characterized by vaults covered with dense tree branches, creating what appear to be vegetal galleries.

Very unique are also the Ragnaie, long avenues of tall and compact hedges used in the past to catch birds. Today, they are quiet places to sit in the coolness on stone benches and enjoy the silence and freshness.

In the past, however, this part of the park had an agricultural and hunting function. These lands constituted the gardens and hunting grounds of the Florentine court. The Cerchiate, on the other hand, served as a place to store the most delicate plants during winter.

On the right side of the main path, you will find the Cantiere della Sughera and the Upper Botanic Garden. The former now serves as a plant nursery, but in the past, it was inhabited by gardeners.

UPPER BOTANIC GARDEN AT BOBOLI

After passing through a gate, you can access the Upper Botanic Garden, which served as a vegetable garden in the past but also housed rare and exotic species like pineapples. Arranged on various levels, this garden also features a pond with water lilies divided into multiple cells.

PALAZZINA DELLA MERIDIANA

Heading towards the Viale della Meridiana, next to Palazzo Pitti, you will find the Palazzina della Meridiana, designed in a neoclassical style. Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo commissioned it, but the Lorraine and Savoy families also inhabited it. Today, it houses the Museum of Fashion and Costume. “Palazzina della Meridiana” comes from the Meridian sundial with an attached camera obscura from 1696. You can find the gnomon hole on the vault of the room amidst the fresco depicting the allegory of Time. The Pegasus statue is in front of the building, seen from the Prato dei Castagni and another ancient stone basin.

GROTTA DI ANNALENA OR GROTTA OF ADAM AND EVE

Next, you will come across a courtyard where a collection of citrus plants is displayed, arranged in beautiful terracotta vases. The downhill path leads to another entrance of the Boboli Gardens, overlooking Via Romana. Right in front of the vast space once used by carriages, you will find the Grotta di Adamo e Eva, also known as the Grotta dell’Annalena, named after the convent that used to be present here in the past. Two mighty Doric columns precede the cave, and the interior walls are covered with faux sponge-like concretions, among which three macarons stand out. At the center of the scene is a sculptural group of Adam and Eve placed on a pedestal in the middle of the basin.

LIMONAIA DI BOBOLI

A beautiful gate announces the elegant buildings of the Limonaia. They originally called the “animal enclosure” because it housed animals used for cooking, hunting, or those considered exotic. Later, during winter, the Medici family placed their extensive collections of citrus fruits here, while the Garden of the Island was adorned instead. The facades of the Limonaia buildings, painted in Lorena green, feature three portals surmounted by cartouches and festoons. These structures are still heated and used for sheltering citrus plants.

The front garden, divided into colorful geometric flowerbeds, is also beautiful.

Continuing ahead, you will come across the Fountain of the Grape Harvest, which depicts a man with a bucket on his shoulders pouring its contents into a wine vat with a child next to him.

ISLAND BASIN OF BOBOLI – the Isolotto Basin

At the end of the main path, the beautiful Island Basin replaced the Bath of Venus, whose architectural elements were used to decorate other fountains, such as the Artichoke Fountain.

It is a massive oval structure surrounded by holm oak trees, among which 16 marble and stone statues of mythological and pastoral figures stand out. Pairs of lions also guard the branching avenues. On the sides, two footbridges connect the islet to the mainland, although iron gates accompanied by two teams of columns surmounted by statues of Capricorns, symbols of the Medici, block public access.

FOUNTAIN OF OCEAN

Initially, the Garden of the Island was adorned with flowers and citrus plants, which can still be found along the stone fence. Later, the statue of Oceanus, also known as Neptune, was added. This statue was initially placed in the middle of the arena but proved unsuitable for the location due to tournaments and theatrical performances.

Oceanus, sculpted by Giambologna (Fountain of the Ocean by Giambologna), is depicted surrounded by the river deities Nilo, Ganges, and Euphrates. The bas-reliefs on the pedestal depict scenes of the Abduction of Europa, the Triumph of Neptune, and Diana’s Bath.

The statue of Oceanus displayed here is a replica from 1911, as the original is preserved at the Bargello Museum.

Also emerging from the waters of the large basin are Perseus on Pegasus and Andromeda chained to the rock.

Completing the scenery, next to the railing of the large basin are shell-shaped fountains with harpies and marine creatures.

PRATO DELLE COLONNE

Continuing along the avenue that leads to Porta Romana, you pass through groves until you reach the Prato delle Colonne. Tall plane trees, statues, and stone busts border the ample green semicircular space. The meadow comes from the two red granite columns, culminating with two white marble vases.

Upon reaching the garden entrance, you find yourself in a roundabout with tall and neatly trimmed hedges and stone statues. Particularly noteworthy is the Fountain of the Botticella, a typical sculpture with a popular theme. It depicts a peasant pouring wine from a barrel. Initially, the water fell into a basin made from an ancient Roman sarcophagus. However, the displayed work is a replica.

Narrow paths through tall trimmed hedges lead back to the Island Basin, from where other paths branch into dense woods.

FOUNTAIN OF THE MOSTACCINI

Numerous paths can be taken to return to the park’s hillside. For example, in the woodland along the main path, you can traverse splendid natural landscapes where it’s easy to forget that you’re in a Renaissance city park momentarily.

The Boboli Gardens is bordered on one side by the ancient city walls. The steep path also leads to the curious Fountain of the Mostaccini. It is pretty evocative, composed of 16 steps and chubby-faced macarons, which gave the artwork its name. However, it should be remembered that this was a rudimentary method of capturing birds and small fauna. They were lured here unknowingly into the nets placed around them. Nearby, there is also the bust of Jupiter, created by Giambologna.

LABYRINTHS OF THE BOBOLI GARDEN

In the 1600s, the side forest next to the Viottolone, towards the ancient city walls, featured three labyrinths, distinguished as the lower, intermediate, and upper labyrinths. Over Time, various modifications were made, leading to their disappearance. Only the Upper or “old” maze is now remembered, thanks to the presence of the Fountain of the Little Birds.

The main reason they were left to themselves and became overgrown was the carriage road construction meant to connect the Island area to the Garden of the Cavaliere.

Initially, the Upper Labyrinth had an elliptical shape, consisting of paths lined with holm oak trees that narrowed as they approached the center. The location of the Prato della Danza, now marked by the Fountain of the Little Birds surrounded by benches, was the labyrinth’s center.

The fountain comprises elements from other architectural works and different periods. Walking through these woods with ancient trees, with their sturdy and twisted trunks, provides a beautiful experience.

BOBOLI CAVALIER GARDEN

Once again reaching the main hill, a double staircase, known as a “tenaglia,” leads to the bastion of the Knights, which was once part of the Florentine fortifications.

CAVALIER’S PALACE AND PORCELAIN MUSEUM

The palace is built on a basin that previously supplied water to the park. Its name derives from the original building used by the knight Malatesta Baglioni. After renovations, Cardinal Leopoldo de’ Medici and the House of Lorraine also used it. They were known for organizing summer parties and dancing there.

The neoclassical-style building features a pastel-colored facade with geometric decorations, while terracotta vases and statues adorn the roof. Currently, it houses the Porcelain Museum, where collections of ceramics from Sevres, Ginori, and Meissen are displayed.

FOUNTAIN OF THE MONKEYS OF BOBOLI

The charming garden in front comprises boxwood-bordered flower beds, with the Fountain of the Monkeys at its center. Made with various architectural elements derived from other constructions in Boboli Gardens, the fountain is named after the three bronze monkeys at the base of the basin.

Initially, there were five monkeys, but one with its cub is now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The dukes of Urbino commissioned the monkeys, and they arrived in Florence following the marriage of Vittoria della Rovere to Ferdinand II de’ Medici.

The white marble Putto fisherman completes the fountain, but the one on display is a replica, as are all the other elements.

Visitors flock to this place because of the marvelous panoramic view that encompasses all the surrounding hills. It is an incredible sight characterized by olive groves, woods, fortresses, and churches, such as the Church of San Miniato, visible in the distance.

STATUE OF ABUNDANCE OF BOBOLI

The Boboli Garden‘s central axis culminates with the Abundance statue, depicted with a bundle of golden wheat and a cornucopia. From this point, you can admire the splendid view from the hill to Palazzo Pitti.

The statue, created by a student of Giambologna, was initially dedicated to Francesco I‘s wife, Giovanna of Austria, who passed away prematurely. However, due to various circumstances, its name changed, representing the period of abundance that the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was experiencing in the 1600s under the Medici dynasty.

NEPTUNE’S BASIN – The Fountain of the Fork

With various terraces, you come across Neptune’s Basin. It is positioned exactly where the water used to flow to irrigate the gardens and where fish were bred.

The god Neptune is depicted in the fountain’s center, surrounded by naiads and tritons. Due to the shape of his trident, it is nicknamed the “fork fountain” or “forked fountain.”

kaffeehaus boboli gardens

The visit to the Boboli Gardens now focuses on the area towards the Belvedere Fort. Following paths and small streets amidst well-trimmed hedges and manicured lawns, you reach the Kaffeehaus. It is a circular pavilion in Rococo style, commissioned by Pietro Leopoldo in 1776.

Originally called the Casino di Delizia, it was a unique resting place for the court during their walks, where they would stop to enjoy hot chocolate instead of coffee, as one might think. Due to its exotic features, such as an onion dome, it was nicknamed the “Chinese Pavilion.” Its exterior is painted in the light green color of the House of Lorraine, but in the past, it was also Pompeian red.

It features a vaulted ceiling with bird frescoes, while the walls depict landscapes and monochrome figures. The building is spread over three floors, with the lower one housing the kitchens, the intermediate one containing the Grand Room flanked by cozy sitting rooms, and finally, the upper belvedere with the copper dome on which the weather vane rotates.

Garden of Ganymede at Boboli Gardens

Descending the two symmetrical staircases of the Kaffeehaus, between which a small artificial cave can be noticed, you find yourself in the Garden of Ganymede.

The sides of this green area feature vine terraces and fruit trees. An oval basin is adorned with the Fountain of Ganymede in the central position. The white marble sculptural group depicts the mythological legend of Jupiter transforming into an eagle to abduct Ganymede, the object of his affection. From the heights of this garden, you can also enjoy a splendid view of Florence, with highlights including Brunelleschi’s dome and Giotto’s bell tower.

GARDEN OF JUPITER AND FOUNTAIN

Following the Viale della Meridiana, you arrive at the garden known as the Garden of Jupiter, where you can see the deity seated. Initially, the sculpture represented God the Father and was intended for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Later, the work transformed into Jupiter, adding lightning bolts in his hands and a black eagle, which no longer exists. In the past, a pipe embedded in the statue allowed water to flow, draining into a basin below. The surrounding garden closed to the public with a low railing, consists of geometric boxwood hedges and rose gardens.

GROTTICINA DELLA MADAMA (Madam’s Cave) AT BOBOLI

A side path leads to the Grotticina della Madama, so named because it was intended for the Medici Grand Duchesses, who held that title. Eleonora di Toledo, the wife of Cosimo I, commissioned this artificial cave located next to the walls of the San Giorgio convent, where dwarf fruits were cultivated.

The exterior facade is decorated with fake rock, and the entrance, topped with a pediment, is tiny and delimited by a white marble frame that contrasts with the other elements.

The interior flooring features geometric patterns in white marble and red terracotta. The vaulted ceiling is barrel-shaped, with niches and coffers bordered by reproductions of porous rocks and grotesque and mythological paintings.

Frames and niches also cover the side walls, while the back wall is completely covered with fake stalactites, among which sculptures of goats, cherubs with dolphins, and a ram’s head emerge.

CAPRICORN SYMBOL FOR THE MEDICI

Cosimo I had an affinity for the zodiac sign of Capricorn, symbolizing slowness and stubbornness, virtues necessary to achieve prestige and coveted social positions. He compared himself to the great influential figures of the past, such as Caesar Augustus and Charles V, who were born under this constellation.

Cosimo was born in June under the sign of Gemini, but he adopted the Capricorn symbol because it coincided with his appointment as the Duke of Florence.

Finally, the Grotticina della Madama has an oval basin with lion paws, although it is a replica. During the 19th century, this space fell into neglect and even served as a furniture storage area until its rediscovery and restoration in the 20th century.

DACIAN STATUES AT BOBOLI

At the end of the Viale della Meridiana, near Palazzo Pitti, two particular sculptures on pedestals are located. These are statues of Dacian prisoners from the 2nd century AD, made of Egyptian red porphyry. In the Boboli Gardens, there are over 250 statues, nearly half of which are from the Roman era. They were transferred here, mainly during the 18th century, by the order of Grand Duke Leopold of Lorraine. Previously, these two statues adorned the Forum of Trajan. The two pedestals on which they stand feature marble reliefs that once covered a Roman triumphal arch erected in commemoration of victories against Germanic and Eastern peoples.

The Buontalenti Grotto in the Boboli Gardens – also known as Grotta Grande or the Big Grotto

One of the most famous caves in the Boboli Gardens is the Grotta Grande or Buontalenti’s Grotto, designed by Buontalenti, a student of Giorgio Vasari. It is located right next to the exit of the Vasari Corridor, which continues upstairs to Palazzo Pitti. The architecture of the cave is diverse because it was collaborated on by many artists in different eras.

Before the cave was a nursery where the water from the Ginevra Fountain converged, serving as the water supply for Palazzo Pitti.

FAÇADE OF The Buontalenti Grotto in the Boboli Gardens

Descending the stairs to the right, after the statues of the Daci, a beautiful view of the Buontalenti’s Grotto opens up. As you approach, you also pass by a wall covered with climbing citrus trees, along which the Vasari Corridor runs.

The façade of the cave is divided into two levels. In the lower part, with classical lines, the two cylindrical columns in red stone stand out, surmounted by an architrave—the side niches, on the other hand, house two statues of deities.

One is the sculpture of Ceres, the goddess of the earth and harvest, depicted in this case with a serpent. It was initially supposed to represent Eve and was destined for the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore. The other statue is that of Apollo, whose forms recall Michelangelo’s David.

The second level of the façade contrasts with its faux limestone concretions, among which there is also the Medici coat of arms, allegories of Peace and Justice, mosaics, and festoons. Cosimo I de Medici, the Capricorn, and the turtle greatly loved two symbols.

ROOMS OF The Buontalenti Grotto in the Boboli Gardens

The Grotta Grande comprises three rooms, one in front of the other. The decorations refer to symbolisms related to an initiatory path, mainly desired by Francesco I de’ Medici, a passionate alchemist. According to his idea, the recreated artificial environments represented man’s journey toward the knowledge and truth of the Universe.

FIRST ROOM OF THE GROTTO

The main room, in a square shape, is the largest. It is adorned with limestone concretions, stalactites, and porous rocks that evoke an ancestral nature. In the middle, there are also human and animal forms. One can notice shepherds and goats created using different types of stones.
The vault is decorated with a trellis, in the middle of which the oculus is located. In the past, there was a glass basin in which fish swam, creating plays of light and reflections with their movement.

Embedded in the decoration of the corners are casts of Michelangelo’s Prisoners. The original sculptures, now preserved at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, were placed in the cave in 1585 when the artist’s nephew donated them to the Medici family. Due to their deterioration, they were moved, and the ones currently seen date back to 1909.

SECOND ROOM OF THE GROTTO

The second room, located in the middle, is the smallest and has a more classical appearance. The porous decorations remain, but frescoes prevail both on the vault and the walls, where, among others, those related to the goddess Juno and Minerva can be seen. The beautiful sculpture of Paris and Ducting Helen takes center stage.

THIRD ROOM OF THE GROTTO

In the third room, frescoes representing trellises prevail on both the walls and the vault. There are crystal mountains in the niches and works made with different types of stones, corals, and shells. In the center of the room is a white and green marble basin, on which the statue of Venus, created by Giambologna, is placed. Four satyrs, hanging from the bay, surround the goddess, intent on splashing her with water.

Artificial grottoes were a classic element of Renaissance gardens and subsequent centuries. They aimed to create awe and wonder, evoking a primitive nature and imitating underground environments.

Despite the lack of water features, they still offer splendid dreamlike scenarios and remain highly evocative.

BACCHINO FOUNTAIN

Next to the park’s exit, one can finally notice the Bacchino Fountain. It depicts the dwarf Morgante dressed as Bacchus, the god of wine, riding a turtle.

Morgante was the favorite dwarf at the court of Cosimo I de’ Medici, and his name comes from a giant in a poem of that era.

Thanks to the privileges he enjoyed, court artists often portrayed him. For example, at Palazzo Pitti, there is the double portrait by Bronzino, where he is depicted completely naked from both perspectives.

However, the sculpture of the Bacchino fountain is a copy, as the original is located in the Bargello Museum.

The beautiful and immense Boboli Gardens walk ends with this final stop. To fully appreciate this oasis of peace, it is recommended to allocate at least three hours for a visit due to its scenic attractions.