Attraction
Uffizi Gallery
Florence's great picture gallery, built by Vasari for Cosimo I de' Medici, with Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio.
Boboli Gardens
The Medici's terraced Renaissance garden behind the Palazzo Pitti, with grottoes, fountains, statues and views across the rooftops of Florence.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic garden
- Area
- Oltrarno, Florence, Italy
- Official site
- uffizi.it
Good to know
- Views over Florence
- Fountains
- Grottoes
- Porcelain Museum
Why we recommend it
The Boboli Gardens climb the hill behind the Palazzo Pitti and are one of the earliest and most influential formal gardens in Europe. They were laid out from the mid-16th century for Eleonora di Toledo, wife of Cosimo I de' Medici, with Niccolò Tribolo drawing the first plan and Bartolomeo Ammannati, Bernardo Buontalenti, Giorgio Vasari and later Giulio and Alfonso Parigi adding to them. Aqueducts were built to feed the fountains, and in the 17th century the garden was extended to its present size.
Start at the amphitheatre carved into the hillside directly behind the palace, with an ancient Egyptian obelisk brought from the Villa Medici in Rome at its centre. From there paths rise past the Fountain of Neptune to the statue of Abundance and the Knight's Garden, a quieter terrace with rose beds and a view over the olive groves of the Florentine hills. The Porcelain Museum stands here. Near the palace exit, Buontalenti's Grotta Grande, completed in the late 16th century, is a strange, dripping cave of shells and sculpted figures, with copies of Michelangelo's unfinished Prisoners set into its corners. On the far side, the long cypress avenue known as the Viottolone leads down to the Isolotto, an oval island in a pond with the Fountain of the Ocean.
The garden is large and steep, with gravel paths and many steps, so wear comfortable shoes and allow two hours or more. In summer, come early or late in the day, as shade is patchy in places. Opening hours change with the seasons, so check the official site before you go. Tickets are separate from the palace, with combined options available. Pushchairs and wheelchairs will find much of the upper garden hard going.
It is a welcome change of pace from the museums and a good place for families to let children run around, though there are few places to buy food, so bring water. The upper terraces give some of the best views of the cathedral dome and the city skyline.
The main entrance is through the courtyard of the Palazzo Pitti, a five-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio. A second entrance near Porta Romana is handy if you are coming from the south of the Oltrarno.
Boboli Gardens FAQs
Who created the Boboli Gardens?
They were begun in the mid-16th century for Eleonora di Toledo, wife of Cosimo I de' Medici, with designs by Tribolo, Ammannati and Buontalenti among others.
Do I need a separate ticket from the Palazzo Pitti?
Yes, the gardens have their own ticket, though combined tickets and the Firenzecard cover both.
How long should I spend in the Boboli Gardens?
At least two hours to see the main features at a relaxed pace.
Are the gardens accessible?
Only partly. The garden is hilly, with gravel paths and many steps.
What should I not miss?
The amphitheatre and obelisk, the Grotta Grande, the Knight's Garden view and the Isolotto at the end of the cypress avenue.
Are the opening hours the same all year?
No. Closing times change with the seasons, so check the official site before visiting.
Is there much shade?
Shade is patchy in places, so in summer visit early or late in the day and bring water.
How do I get there?
Enter through the Palazzo Pitti courtyard, a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio, or via the gate near Porta Romana.