WHAZHOT · MADE IN FLO' · ONLY IN FLO' · DISCOUNT COUPONS
sections
Booking
.
culture
.
You don’t have to go far to visit this splendid park Discovering the Boboli Gardens
[Susan Glasspool]
The Boboli Gardens extend over a large stretch of land full of grottos, fountains and statues and sprawl along the slopes of the hill. Higher up, behind the ramparts built by Michelangelo during the Seige of Florence, the Boboli hill is blocked off by Fort Belvedere or the Fort of San Giorgio, designed by Buontalenti for defensive purposes, but really used as a strong-room for the Medici treasury.
The garden itself was designed by Tribolo and started a fashion that laid the basis for all the royal gardens in Europe, including Versailles. Buontalenti invented a great many Mannerist elements to decorate these splendid gardens, among them the Large Grotto, with fountains and statues by Ammannati, Giambologna and Tacca.
In the 17th century, Giulio and Alfonso Parigi carried out the stone Amphitheatre, where many theatrical performances were held, the great cypress alley and the square and pool of Isolotto.
The last additions, like the Coffee house, the Lawn of the Columns and the Lemonary, were built in 18th century by the Lorriane family who later made other changes, as decreed by the Romantic English garden, then in vogue. Pietro Leopoldo opened the gardens to the public in 1776.
The isolated Garden of the Knight and the small building that hosts the Porcelain Museum lie near the top of the hill, close to Fort Belvedere.
There is much to discover in the Boboli Gardens - plants, garden design, statuary - and you will probably decide to return more than once to properly absorb its magic.
Boboli Gardens
Info: tel. 055.2388615.
Hours: 8.15am-6.30pm (May)
8.15am-7.30pm (June, July, August).
MORE