Giardino di Boboli
Spreading across the hillside behind Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens are one of Italy's finest examples of Renaissance garden design — 45,000 square metres of clipped box hedges, grottos, fountains, cypress avenues and outdoor sculpture that doubles as a world-class open-air museum. It's also one of the few places in central Florence where you can find genuine shade and silence on a hot summer a
Highlights not to miss
The Grotta del Buontalenti (1583–1588) near the main entrance is one of the strangest and most beautiful spaces in Florence — a mannerist grotto dripping with artificial stalactites, frescoed walls and Michelangelo's Prisoners embedded in the rock (the originals are now in the Accademia; these are casts). Entry is by timed guided tour booked at the gate.
The Amphitheatre directly behind the palace was the site of the very first opera performances in history, staged here for Medici celebrations in the late 16th century — stand in it and let that fact sink in.
Climb to the highest point of the garden, the Forte di Belvedere ridge, for a panorama that rivals Piazzale Michelangelo but with almost no one else around.
Practical advice for the gardens
Enter early (the gardens open at 8:15 am) to walk the upper cypress avenues in cool morning light before the Palazzo Pitti crowds arrive — the difference in atmosphere between 9 am and 11 am is dramatic.
The gardens are hilly; wear comfortable shoes and bring water, as the single café near the amphitheatre charges tourist prices and has limited stock.
A combined ticket covering Palazzo Pitti's museums and the Boboli Gardens costs around €22 and is valid for three consecutive days — excellent value for a thorough visit.
Giardino di Boboli on video
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