How to Enjoy the Boboli Gardens
The origin of the Boboli Gardens can be traced to the year 1550, when they were laid out for Cosimo I de' Medici as a tribute to his wife, Eleonora di Toledo. Niccolo Pericoli detto Tribolo was commissioned to design the landscaping but died in 1555 prior to the completion of the gardens. Work was then directed by Davide Fortini, who was followed by Giorgio Vasari. The result is an excellent example of Renaissance-style gardening, which opened to the public in 1766. Information in this article will help visitors plan a trip to the Boboli Gardens in Florence.
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Instructions
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See the Amphitheater. Built in the early 17th century by Giulio Parigi, stone for the amphitheater was quarried on site and the resulting hollow was turned into the stage area. The top of the seating area contains 24 niches which hold statues. At the center of the amphitheatre is an Egyptian obelisk, which is said to have been erected in Heliopolis in the 13th century B.C. by Ramses II. It was later transported to the Temple of Isis in Rome and then later moved to the Medici Villa in Rome. In 1790, the Medici had it moved to the amphitheater. This amphitheater is said to have hosted the first opera performances.
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See L'Isolotto. L'Isolotto, or Little Island, is a moated garden, which is located on the southeastern side of the gardens. The centerpiece of Little Island is the magnificent Oceanus Fountain, sculpted by Giambologna in the late 16th century. Although the original statue of Oceanus has been moved to the Bargello in Florence, this copy is none the less striking.
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Stroll down the Viottolone. The Viottolone is a long, narrow avenue bordered by cypress trees, planted in 1612. It is lined with classical statutes and run generally east to west, from the L'Isolotto to the Neptune Fountain. It is a nicely shaded walk on hot summer days.
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Explore the gardens. The formal gardens, nearest to the Palazzo, offer visitors an opportunity to stroll through the same box hedges, ilex and cypress trees as the Medici. Endless paths snake through the symmetrical geometric patterns and offer stunning views of Florence. To the southeast of the Palazzo, the gardens are less formal, laid out in semicircular patterns with winding walkways and several elaborate fountains. The gardens are dotted with statues throughout.
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Tips & Warnings
Combination entry tickets to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens are available at the ticket office.
Visitors who enter after 4:00 p.m. receive a discount on the admission price.
European Union citizens under 18 and over 65 are admitted free of charge.
On the east side of the gardens is an 18th-century, Rococo-style pavilion that houses a coffee house, bathrooms and payphones.
Due to maintenance and vandalism, some of the garden statuary are copies.
Due to the steep incline of some paths, parts of the gardens are not easily accessible to the disabled.
