Boboli Gardens. Boboli Gardens - the pride of the Medici, the calling card of Florence

The Florence Rose Garden is a small piece of land, only one hectare in size, on which, miraculously, for more than 150 years, the most delicate varieties of roses, bright irises, and delicious lemons have been grown in the entire city.

The rose garden is located in Florence, near the church of San Miniato, which Michelangelo himself affectionately called “the bride,” on the stairs of Monte alle Croci. In 1865, Giuseppe Poggi designed the garden when the capital of Italy was to be moved to Florence. Only in 1895 it was opened to everyone. Here you can see roses of different shades and types, as well as other unusual ornamental plants and lovely flowers. The local heavenly atmosphere is complemented by beautiful sculptures and fountains in the form of fabulous animals and original human faces.

The garden is located on a hill, so it offers a magical view of the city, which you can enjoy in peace and quiet. You can visit the Florence Rose Garden completely free from May 1 to July 31, every day from 8.00 to 20.00.

Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens are the most famous park in Florence and one of the best examples of park art of the Italian Renaissance.

The gardens opened to the public in 1766.

They are located on Boboli Hill, behind Palazzo Pitti - the former residence of the Medici Dukes of Florence.

The Boboli Gardens were founded in 1550 by order of Eleanor of Toledo, wife of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici, and designed by the architect Niccolò Pericoli.

Currently, the park covers an area of 4.5 hectares.

Boboli is a museum of garden sculptures under open air, where works of ancient art and statues from the 16th and 17th centuries are displayed. The park is divided by long axial and wide gravel paths, decorated with decorative stone elements, magnificent sculptures and fountains.

Bardini Garden

The wonderful Bardini Garden, spread over four hectares near the banks of the Arno on the Montecuccoli hill. This garden is not promoted by guidebooks, and therefore managed to preserve the atmosphere of real medieval Italy - those times when it was owned by the noble family Mozzi. Until the 16th century, vegetables and fruits were grown here for the master's table, and then, in connection with new fashionable trends in Europe, it was decided to turn the agricultural area into a blooming park with fountains, grottoes, a chic staircase in the Baroque style and a number of sculptures.

Boboli Gardens in Florence

Every visitor rightfully considers the Boboli Gardens in Florence to be the most beautiful in the world. Today this park is actually one of the best preserved examples landscape art XVI and, in addition, bears the name of the open-air garden sculpture museum.

The slopes of the Boboli hills shelter the garden, which is located immediately behind the Palazzo Pitti, the residence of the Medici Dukes of Tuscany. The idea of its creation belonged to Eleanor of Toledo, the wife of the famous Duke Cosimo I. Niccolo Tribolo took over the arrangement, and after his death the business was transferred to Bartolomeo Ammanati. This old Florentine park, like several centuries ago, will surprise anyone today with its elegant sculptures and beautiful alleys, walking along which you can admire slender cypress trees and powerful holm oaks.

Of particular interest is the amphitheater, which is famous for the world's first opera performances.

There is nothing better than visiting the Boboli Gardens on a hot summer day and relaxing next to the soothing sound of the magnificent fountains.

– a great place to take a break from the bustle of the city and tiring runs to the sights and shops. And also feast your eyes with beautiful grottoes, fountains, gazebos and flower beds, because there is a lot to see here. At all times, the Boboli Gardens were considered the perfection of landscape design, and more than once served as an example for the creation of other royal parks in Europe, such as the famous park complex of the French Versailles.

History of creation

The Boboli Gardens, named after the hill on which they are located, were founded by Eleanor of Toledo, wife of the great Tuscan Duke Cosimo I de' Medici. The Duchess had this idea immediately after she acquired the palace in 1549 from the descendants of the influential but bankrupt Pitti family.

The huge area of untouched land that stretched behind the palace seemed to have been specially created for the future park, and from the top of the hill a beautiful panorama of the city opened up.

Panorama of Florence from Boboli Hill

Initially, the court gardener and decorator Niccolo Tribolo worked on the arrangement of the park, but his early death did not allow him to complete his plan. Bartolomeo Ammanati (creator of the Neptune fountain on) took up the matter next. According to his idea, the center of the park area became the amphitheater, and its main highlight was the ancient Egyptian obelisk from Luxor, specially brought here from the ducal Roman villa.

Giorgio Vasari, who created most of the park grottoes, and his student Bernardo Buontalenti, who left behind beautiful sculptures decorating the garden, also contributed to the arrangement of the gardens.

Eleanor of Toledo acquired the Pitti Palace in 1549

Over the years, the owners changed: the Medici were replaced by the dynasty of the Dukes of Lorraine, and they, in turn, were replaced by representatives of the royal family. Along with them, the Boboli Gardens also underwent changes. Everyone tried to expand the park area, embellish it and bring in something new of their own.

Composition of the Boboli Gardens in Florence

Cypress Alley, founded by Giulio Parigi in 1630, is perfectly preserved, and today it saves you from the heat and pleases the eye. It is along it that the main park path runs, which starts at the amphitheater and leads to the decorative terrace at the very top of the hill. This is the highlight of the trip and is rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of Florence, with its red roofs and church domes.

But even before the hill, a lot of surprises and impressions await you, and they begin with the amphitheater, which in its shape resembles the Roman classical hippodrome, or rather, half of it. By the way, the very first opera performances in the world began to take place here (1476).

The world's first opera performance took place in the amphitheater in 1476.

The fountains “Neptune”, “Ocean”, “Artichoke Fountain” and the round fountain “Ganymede” will help you cool down in the heat. Visitors to the park especially like the small man-made lake Isolotto, the work of Alfonso Parigi (1614), with a small island - a garden inside.

Flower beds, rose gardens and flower beds, hedges of plane trees and boxwoods are fragrant in the Boboli Gardens in Florence almost all year round, changing smells and colors in accordance with the season. The huge number of statues is also striking, starting with ancient images of the emperor and famous Romans and ending with the works of famous Italian masters of the 16th-17th centuries.

Alleys and hedges of plane trees and boxwoods are everywhere in the Gardens

Among other attractions of the Gardens, one cannot fail to mention the Coffee House, which appeared here at the end of the 18th century as a tribute to the newfangled tradition. In the open air, local nobles enjoyed both beautiful view, and the fragrance of flowers, and aromatic coffee.

The coffee house appeared here at the end of the 18th century

Grottoes at the Boboli Gardens

The grottoes in the Boboli Gardens deserve special attention. There are only four of them here and each is a separate work of art:

The Great Grotto or Grotto of Buontalenti (Grotta del Buontalenti) was created during 1583-1593, consists of three rooms and is considered a masterpiece of Mannerist architecture.

The Buontalenti Grotto is considered a masterpiece of Mannerist architecture

The grotto is decorated with artificial stalactites on the outside and inside, and the façade is decorated with stucco, mosaics and statues. The premises are painted with frescoes and decorated with sculptures, including such famous ones as a copy of Michelangelo’s famous work “Slaves”, “The Bathing of Venus” by Giambologna and Vincenzo de Rossi’s composition “Paris and Helen”.

Small Grotto “Madama” (Grotta di Madama), also by Bernardo Buontalenti. The plot of the Greek myth about Amalthea inspired the master when designing it.

"Moses' Grotto" (Grotta di Mosè) was created on biblical themes by Bartolomeo Ammanati.

But the fourth - “Grotto of Adam and Eve” (Grotta di Adamo ed Eva) - was erected later than all of them, in 1817.

The rooms of the Grotto Buontalenti are painted with frescoes and decorated with sculptures

Opening hours and how to visit

You can visit the Boboli Gardens in Florence, recognized as one of the best park ensembles of the Italian Renaissance, all year round: access to the general public has been open here since 1766. Exceptions to the rule are January 1, December 25 and days of technical work, which are the first and last Mondays of each month.

Entry to Bobley Gardens is permitted from 8:15 am and closes 1 hour before closing; its timing differs depending on the season:

From June to the end of August the park is open until 18:50;
September-October – until 18:30;
From November to February – until 16:30;
March – until 17:30;
April, May – until 18:30

Locals jokingly call the Neptune Fountain “the fountain with a fork.”

How to get there

If you are in Florence itself, you can get to Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens by public transport– city buses No. 11 and No. 36 regularly run there. Go to the San Felice stop.

Well, if you are staying in Rome, Milan, Bologna or Pisa, you just need to set aside just one day from your schedule and the travel time to Florence will take:

From Bologna - only 37 minutes,
From Pisa – exactly 1 hour,
– 1 hour 35 min.,
– 1 hour 45 minutes.

Boboli Gardens(Italian: Giardino di Boboli) is a famous park in Florence, one of the best park ensembles of the Italian Renaissance.

The Boboli Gardens are located on the slopes of Boboli Hill behind Palazzo Pitti, the main residence of the Medici Grand Dukes of Tuscany and are one of the most famous works of landscape art of the 16th century. In accordance with the tastes of the time, the park is divided by long axial paths, wide gravel paths, and is decorated with decorative stone elements, statues and fountains. The Boboli Gardens are divided into a private zone with limited access and a public zone with grottoes, nymphs, and open garden temples with colonnades made in the classical style. An unusual feature of the Boboli Gardens for its time is the opening from them. magnificent views to the city. Wide access to the gardens was opened in 1766.

The foundation of the Pitti Palace and garden is associated with the name of one of the richest merchants of Florence, Luca Pitti, who, being an ardent rival of the Medici family, sought to surpass them in the luxury of the chambers being built. Ironically, it was Cosimo de' Medici's wife, Eleonora of Toledo, who became the owner of the Pitti Palace just a few decades later. The arrangement of the park was entrusted to Niccolò Tribolo, and after his death in 1550, his work was continued by Bartolomeo Ammanati; Giorgio Vasari also participated in the design and construction of several grottoes. The sculptures for the Boboli Gardens were made by Bernardo Buontalenti, who also designed the grotto in the courtyard separating the palace from the gardens.

The main axial path, leading between cypress trees and holm oaks to the rear façade of Palazzo Pitti, begins at the bottom of the amphitheater, shaped like half of a classical hippodrome, and rises up to Boboli Hill. In the center of the amphitheater is an ancient Egyptian obelisk from Luxor, brought here from the Roman Villa Medici. This main path is crowned by the Fountain of Neptune, which Florentines jokingly call the fork fountain, and the sculpture of Stoldo Lorenzi. Another center path in the right corner from the main path leads through a series of terraces and fountains.

The Boboli Gardens have been reconstructed several times. The park acquired its current area of 4.5 hectares in the 17th century. Currently, the Boboli Gardens are an open-air museum of garden sculpture, where both ancient antiquities and works of the 16th and 17th centuries are presented.

The development of the Boboli Gardens can be divided into two stages. At the first stage, on the site of a former quarry in Boboli Hill, the first axis of the garden was laid, which runs from the rear facade of the Pitti Palace through Boboli Hill to the Neptune Fountain. This stage of development of the gardens covers the period 1554-1583. first under the leadership of Niccolo Pericoli, and then of the talented Florentine Mannerist architect Bartolomeo Ammanati.

The second stage of development of the Boboli Gardens is associated with their significant expansion beyond the boundaries of the bastions erected during the war with Siena. During this period, a second axis of the park appeared, perpendicular to the first, which stretches from the Neptune Fountain to the Ocean Fountain. This stage began in 1612 and was carried out under the leadership of Giulio Parigi until 1631. It was under him that Cypress Alley was founded in 1630, which has existed to this day.

Just behind the rear facade of the Pitti Palace with its Artichoke fountain and small geometric garden there is a wonderful view of the large amphitheater by Giulio Parigi. It was he who transformed the former regular garden-amphitheater into an open area for theatrical performances. The amphitheater, similar to half of a Roman hippodrome, is framed by stonework in the form of a staircase with six rows of seats and a balustrade with two dozen niches. Initially, the niches were filled with antique statues with figures of dogs and other animals on the sides; later the animal figures were replaced by terracotta urns with imitation marble. It is known that the world's first opera performances took place in this amphitheater. In the 19th century, the amphitheater lost its theatrical function and a granite fountain and an Egyptian obelisk were installed in its center.

An ancient Egyptian obelisk from Luxor (1279-1212 BC) was taken to Rome among several now erected in St. Peter's Square and Popolo, and then ended up in the Villa Medici. Italian architects of the Renaissance eagerly used Egyptian obelisks as the main accents, and this tradition later spread to other countries. Imitations of Egyptian obelisks were also erected in Russia, for example the Rumyantsev Obelisk in St. Petersburg or the Kagul Obelisk in Tsarskoye Selo.

There is a steep climb up from the amphitheater, at the beginning of which there is a statue of Ceres. There are also statues of famous Romans and the emperor. At the top of the Boboli Gardens, the rise is crowned by a second amphitheater, the earthen terraces of which, in the form of steps, frame a pond with the Neptune Fountain in a semicircle. It is possible that the garden behind the Pitti Palace looked like this before it was rebuilt into an amphitheater by the architect Giulio Parigi. The earthen terraces of the amphitheater are partially framed by pruned plane trees. In the center of the square there is an irregularly shaped pond, which is located on the site of an old pond from the 16th century. In the pond there is a fountain by the mannerist sculptor Stoldo Lorenzi with a bronze statue of Neptune surrounded by naiads and tritons, which the Florentines jokingly call the “fountain with a fork.”

From the fountain, if you are facing the Pitti Palace, there is a diagonal path to the right to the Kaffehaus coffee house from the late 18th century. Its appearance was due to the new Western European tradition of drinking coffee in the fresh air. The coffee house is currently under restoration. From the coffee house, the “agricultural zone” of the Boboli Gardens stretches down with gravel paths, low trimmed hedges and young plantings of fruit crops. At the bottom of the area is the circular Ganymede fountain by Stoldo Lorenzi, in the center of which is a bowl topped with sculptures of a youth and an eagle. The composition is dedicated to the story of the abduction of Ganymede, who, due to his extraordinary beauty was carried by the eagle of Zeus to Olympus.

If you go back and, before reaching the Neptune Fountain, turn onto the second main axis of the Boboli Gardens, you can go to Cypress Alley. Here begins the second part of the gardens, which developed at the beginning of the 17th century. Along the alley there are statues mostly from the 16th century, but there are also antique ones among them. Towards the end of the alley there are statues from the 17th century depicting games that were popular at that time. In the depths of the right alley of plane trees you can see the arch of Limonaia, a greenhouse for growing lemon trees, built by Zanobi Del Rosso in 1785. The greenhouse is still used today for storing several hundred potted citrus trees during the cold season.

Pond Island or Isolotto. An oval-shaped pond by Alfonso Parigi (1614) frames the island with a formal Baroque garden. Closer to summer, the island is decorated with trimmed boxwood hedges and plantings of ancient varieties of roses and bulbs, complemented by numerous potted citrus fruits. It is known that Alfonso Parigi, when creating Isolotto, took as a basis the Maritime Theater located in Hadrian's Villa near Tivoli. In the center of the garden stands the Ocean fountain by the early Baroque sculptor Giambologna (1576) with statues of Neptune and other gods representing the great rivers Nile, Ganges and Euphrates.

The alley continues beyond the pond to the Lawn of Columns, which is a semicircular open space framed by plantings of tall plane trees. In the corners of the lawn, closer to the semicircle of plane trees, Paoletti placed two columns, and in the niches of the trimmed hedge framing the Lawn of Columns, a dozen antique busts.

– a very cozy, small town, home to about 360 thousand people. It is completely lined with stone. Everything here is made of stone, from buildings to embankments and sidewalks.

During my walks around Florence, I saw practically no greenery, let alone any parks or green courtyards. You can count them there on the fingers of one hand. Therefore, the Boboli Gardens became almost the most anticipated attraction for me. As it turned out later, not only I, but also the majority of Florentines suffer from a lack of green vegetation. Therefore the Boboli Gardens are for them favorite place rest on weekends.

How to get there

The Boboli Gardens are located on the other side of the Arno River, directly opposite the Uifizzi Gallery.

When I first studied the map, it seemed to me that the Sable Gardens were located on a huge hill, and it was impossible to cover the distance from the river to them on foot. But in reality the hill is not that big. The gardens are located just 5-7 minutes walk from the river. It is worth remembering that distances in Russia and in European cities are different: even the longest street on the map of Italy may in fact turn out to be no larger than our lane.

From more distant parts of Florence, the Gardens can be reached by public transport.

So, for example, from the central station of Santa Maria Novella you can take the bus number D from the Scala stop, which is located directly opposite the station, to the Pitti stop, located in front of the main square of the palace.

From the San Marco Museum you can take bus number 11. From the Dogana stop, get to the Serumido stop and walk slightly to the left.

From the Basilica of Santa Croce to the Boboli Gardens you can take the C3 bus from the Magliabechi stop to Ponte Vecchio. This stop is located at the bridge of the same name. You need to cross this bridge and then continue straight up the hill.

Opening Hours

The gardens are open daily, but according to a special schedule:

From November to February from 8-15 to 16-30;

In March and October from 8-15 to 17-30;

From April to May and from September to October the park is open from 8-15 to 18-30;

From June to August from 8-15 to 19-30.

The entrance to the Boboli Gardens is through the adjacent Pitti Palace.

The ticket costs 7 euros, this price includes visits to the Silver Museum (located on the left side of the palace), the Costume Gallery (3rd floor of the palace) and the Porcelain Museum (located inside the Boboli Gardens). You can also buy a ticket for 10 euros. In addition to all of the above, it also includes an inspection of the palace chambers.

Story

The Boboli Gardens are the oldest and most famous park ensemble in Florence. They are located on the Boboli slope of the same name, just behind the Pitti Palace.

It was once built by the merchant Luca Pitti. Being one of the ardent opponents of the Medici family, Pitti sought to surpass them in the luxury and beauty of his possessions. But ironically, several decades later, Eleanor of Toledo, the wife of Cosimo de' Medici, became the owner of the palace. Since then, this place has been called the residence of the Medici. And it was then that the planting and design of the garden began.

The garden was planned by two architects. The first was Niccolo Tribolo, and after his death the business was continued by Bartolomeo Ammanati.

Under the leadership of Niccolo Tribolo, the first axis of the garden was laid on the site of a former quarry. It runs from the rear façade of the Pitti Palace, right through Boboli Hill to the Fountain of Neptune.

The second stage of development is associated with a significant expansion of the gardens. Also at this time, the second axis of the park appeared. It stretches from the Neptune fountain to the Ocean fountain, perpendicular to the first axis.

Walk in the park

Amphitheaters

Just behind the Pitti Palace, next to the Artichoke Fountain and a wonderful little garden, there is a view of a large amphitheater that looks like half of a Roman hippodrome. It was here that the most luxurious performances were staged and the very first opera performances were staged.

Later, the amphitheater ceased to function as a place for performances; a granite fountain and an Egyptian obelisk were installed in its center.

There is a climb up from the amphitheater, at the beginning of which there is a statue of Ceres, the goddess of fertility. Further up the steps there are statues of famous Romans and the emperor.

At the top of the Boboli Gardens there is a second amphitheater, which houses one of the most beautiful fountains in the garden - the Neptune Fountain. It is an irregularly shaped pond with a bronze statue of Neptune in the center. He is surrounded by naiads and newts. Among the Florentines, this fountain is popularly called the “fountain with a fork.”

If you go up the hill all the way high point, you will have a stunning view of the garden, the Pitti Palace and Florence as a whole.

Museums

If you are facing the Pitti Palace, then on your left hand there will be an ascent to the porcelain museum and an observation deck.

The museum mainly displays Medici family porcelain, various household utensils and children's porcelain toys.

Co observation deck a view of a completely different part of Florence opens up - “not stone”. Looking down from top to bottom, for the first time during my stay, I saw this “book” Tuscany, with all its small houses built on the hills and covered with ivy, green slopes and vineyards.

And if you move to the right of the palace along a diagonal path, you will come to a coffee house. After a long restoration, tourists began to be allowed there again. As befits a coffee house, there is a cafe inside where tourists can relax and have a cup of coffee.

Fountains

Following the path from the coffee house, you will come to the "agricultural zone" of the Boboli Gardens with gravel drives, low trimmed hedges and young plantings of vine bushes.

At the bottom of this area is the circular fountain of Ganymede. It is a bowl in the center of which there are sculptures of a young man and an eagle. The composition is dedicated to the story of the abduction of Ganymede, who was carried by the eagle of Zeus to Olympus because of his eternal youth and beauty.

If you go back and, before reaching the Neptune Fountain, turn onto the second main axis of the Boboli Gardens, you can go to Cypress Alley. Along the alley there are antique statues depicting games that were popular at that time.

Moving forward along Cypress Alley, you will come to small island, located in the middle of the pond. The island itself looks more like a garden. it is decorated with bushy roses and citrus fruits growing in small pots. In the center of the garden is the Ocean fountain with a statue of Neptune. He is surrounded by figures of gods, personifying such great rivers as the Nile, Ganges and Euphrates.

Buontalenti Grotto

My visit to Florence fell at the end of June-July. This is the hottest period in Italy, the air temperature sometimes reaches +37 degrees Celsius. And what struck me in the Boboli Gardens, despite this hellish heat, all the vegetation in the park - flowers, lawns, trees, vineyards - is green. I didn’t see a single dried out bush or burnt lawn.

It turns out that during the landing and design of the park it was also planned large grottoes. One of them is called the Buontalenti Grotto (named after the architect-creator), and its main duty is to provide water to the entire park, thereby maintaining its vital activity and beauty.

The Buontalenti Grotto is located to the left of the park entrance. Inside the grotto there are many sculptures, half of which are covered with artificial stalactites. Also in the first hall there are copies of Michelangelo's "Slaves" and a secret passage to the legendary Ponte Vecchio bridge.

Impression

The Boboli Gardens made a very strong impression on me. It’s not for nothing that they are called the standard gardens of Europe. I was surprised to learn that even Versailles was designed in the image of the Boboli Gardens.

Despite the fact that the gardens occupy a relatively small area, they are very intricately designed. So I want to warn you, you will always have to work around something. There is not a single straight path; there will always be 2 or even 3 paths in front of you that will direct you to different places.

All the plants and bushes in the garden are quite low and provide virtually no shade, and summers in Italy are very hot. Therefore, it is better to choose moderate weather to visit the Gardens, because... There will be practically no opportunity to hide from the sun.

For each person, the beauty of the Boboli Gardens is revealed in their own way. Therefore, at the first opportunity, go to the Pitti Palace and conquer the Boboli Gardens. Believe me, this will become one of yours the most exciting travels according to Florence.

Florence is the city in which the fate of Italy, and sometimes the whole of Europe, was decided. It is noisy, fussy and diverse, which can tire an unprepared traveler. To take a break from the hustle and bustle and enjoy tranquility, it is worth visiting the Boboli Gardens in Florence. This is not ordinary picturesque park near the Pitt Palace, and a real work of art in the lap of nature. In the vastness of the picturesque hill, the harmony of sculptural statues, ancient trees and fountains is striking. Relaxing in the garden is a pleasure no matter the weather or season. And from the hill on which the gardens are located, a beautiful panorama of the city opens up.

Creation of Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens were first mentioned in the works of chroniclers at the border of the 16th and 17th centuries. It is associated with Cosimo I de' Medici and Duchess Eleonora di Toledo. When the Pitti Palace came into their possession at the end of the 16th century, they discovered a gently sloping, uninhabited hill behind it. Then Duchess Eleanor decided to build a park that would surpass other parks in beauty and emphasize the influence of the Medici family.

The best craftsmen were involved in the design of the park, led by sculptor Nicolo Tribolo. He worked on creating compositions until his death. His duties were later taken over by Bartolomeo Ammanati. Giulio and Alfonso Parigi, as well as Giorgio Vasari, were involved in the implementation of individual elements.

Such majestic gardens became a model for many European rulers, who applied similar techniques in their own domains. Unique sculptural complexes gave the garden its unique appearance. Work to decorate the park continued for many years. Some sculptures were installed already during the reign of Cosimo's heirs.

Throughout its history, the intricate labyrinths of the gardens have witnessed various events. During the reign of the Medici family, lavish celebrations and performances were regularly held there. Even the first opera was performed here. The entire Tuscan nobility gathered in the Boboli Gardens to enjoy the shimmer of the arias.

Modern look

The fate of the gardens is quite prosperous. They were not subject to looting or destruction. Each ruler sought to leave his mark and improved the design of the park. The territory was expanded several times due to the annexation of neighboring properties. Since the mid-17th century, the Boboli Gardens have occupied 4.5 hectares. Since 1766, ordinary visitors began to be allowed into them.

Today the garden and park complex is recognized as a museum. This example of landscape craftsmanship is rich in sculptures from the ancient period and those created before the mid-17th century. It is difficult to find a more beautiful and elegant Italian park.

Axial alleys lead from the amphitheater to various parts of the park. They, like rays, divide his territory. The central path is gravel and surrounded by cypress trees. Just behind the palace, at the beginning of the main alley, there is an ancient sculpture. She was brought from Luxor, first to the previous residence of the Medici, and then here.

The gravel path is decorated with a fountain with a statue of Neptune. Many Italians jokingly call a trident a fork. There are several Roman-style sculptures in the immediate vicinity. Further on there is a staircase that leads to a hall with statues of muses. A little deeper into the thickets, a very unusual ensemble “Dwarf on a Turtle” opens up. The author of the work is Valerio Cigoli. The statue is said to depict the family's favorite jester.

Nearby is the Buonalenti Grotto, which deserves special attention due to the lush decoration and resemblance to a cave. In three rooms of the grotto, among the stalactites, there are works by Michelangelo. Visiting the grotto is only allowed if accompanied by workers.

Further along the path you can reach the Garden of Jupiter. It invites you to relax by the Artichoke fountain. There is an octagonal fountain near the statue of the god Jupiter. The Cavaliere Garden is located on a picturesque terrace. A huge number of flowering plants are planted in it, which bloom in turn. First peonies, then roses and so on.

If you walk south along the ivy alley, you can find yourself on the small artificial island of Isolotto. There are rose gardens with rare varieties of roses, and there are also tubs with citrus trees. The safety of the gardens is looked after by statues of Perseus and his beloved Andromeda.

The opposite part of the park offers a picturesque panorama of Florence from the top of the hill. On one of the lawns there is a small building - a coffee house dating back to the 18th century. It is worth noting that most of the statues are skillful copies and do not represent historical value. The originals were placed in museum storage in order to protect them from ill-wishers.

Fortunately, the tradition of holding concerts and performances on improvised stages in the middle of the garden has not been lost. You can find a schedule of future performances on the official website.

Excursions

To maintain the Boboli Gardens, they are closed to visitors on Mondays at the beginning and end of the month, as well as on December 25, January 1 and May 1. On other days the following operating hours are set:

8.15-16.30 (November-February);
8.15-17.30 (March);
8.15-18.30 (in autumn and spring, summer time);
8.15-19.30 (during the summer months).

How to get there

Florence is at the crossroads of several paths. It is convenient to get there by train. From Rome to high speed train the journey will take only an hour and a half. From the station, take buses 11 or 36 to the San Felice stop. It is within walking distance of the Pitti Palace. The garden begins immediately behind the palace. Also from the station you can take walking through bustling Florence. In this case, the journey will take about 15 minutes. Numerous “Giardino di Boboli” signs will prevent you from getting lost along the way.