Boboli Gardens

In the heart of Florence is this charming green gem, an illustrious Renaissance garden teeming with sculptures.

TravelCurious Tip

The gardens are expansive and quite steep in places, so be sure to bring appropriate footwear if you want to really explore them

The Boboli Gardens are found in the heart of Florence, behind the Palazzo Pitti, which was formerly the home of the Medici family and is now one of the city’s foremost museums. When first built the gardens were a lavish present from the Medici family, for the Medici family: no one else was allowed in, and no events were ever held there.


The gardens were carefully designed in the 16th-century style, imbued with classical elements. Wide gravel avenues lead to statues and fountains nestled in ornate stonework, with spaces inspired by grottos, garden temples and amphitheatres. To walk around them is to take a journey through classical mythology.


Eyes on the Prize

The fountain of Neptune can be found on the hillside above the amphitheatre. Set in a large basin, the central bronze statue of Neptune was created by Stoldo Lorenzi. It depicts a moment from the competition between Athena and Neptune to be the patron of Athens. Neptune struck the ground with his trident, producing a salt spring; Athena, with a touch of her spear, summoned an olive tree from the soil. No prizes for guessing who won.


Far From Grotty

Stone stalactites mark the entrance to the Large Grotto. Don’t be put off by its rather unattractive name: it is exquisite. Inside, the grotto contains three frescoed sections: the first contains replicas of Michaelangelo’s Prisoners, the second holds Paris and Helen by Vincenzo de Rossi, and the third contains Giambologna’s, Bathing Venus. The latter two were allegedly designed as perfect spots for Duke Francesco I de Medici’s amorous trysts.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Florence
Renaissance Statues
Throughout Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens, there are dramatic marble statues which draw global visitors each day.
Palazzo Pitti
A vast 15th century palace commissioned by the ambitious Florentine banker Luca Pitti, housing an important collection of Renaissance paintings.
Oltrarno Neighbourhood
Oltrarno means “beyond the Arno” and is now one of Florence's trendiest neighbourhoods.
Palatine Gallery
Housing some of the grandest artworks of Palazzo Pitti, the Palatine Gallery is not to be missed.
Anfiteatro de Boboli
Originally designed as a garden, the Anfiteatro de Boboli was finished in 1634 and after a performance held in 1739, the Amphitheatre was no longer used for plays.
Vasca del Nettuno
The Boboli Gardens are known for the beauty of its sculptures and the wonder of its fountains. The Vasca del Nettuno is one of the most beautiful attractions where Neptune is seen holding a trident against fish and mermaids.

Related Tours

Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens: Private Half-Day Walking Tour
Explore the beautiful formal grounds of the magnificent Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens; and discover the grand-ducal residence of three ruling dynasties. Filled with artistic treasures by revered maestros such as Titian and Raphael, you’ll learn about the aristocratic lives of the Medici and other noble families who ruled the glittering, bygone era of the Italian Renaissance. 

On your private tour, you will: 

  • Visit the magnificent Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens with your private guide;
  • Marvel at the lavish interior of this vast palazzo and learn about the lives of the grand dukes, duchesses, and their entourages, who inhabited the place for centuries;
  • Discover glorious masterpieces by Titian, Raphael, and Rubens;
  • Learn the compelling backstories of the works of art that adorn the walls together with the history of Anna Maria Luisa de Medici (1667-1743), the Palazzo Pitti’s patron of the arts;
  • Learn about the fascinating history of the building from its construction in the 1400s by the wealthy banker Luca Pitti, to its historic purchase by the Medici in 1550, and how it was later gifted to the Italian people;
  • Explore the highlights of this palatial complex now divided into four museums: the gleaming Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the astonishing luxury of the Imperial and Royal apartments and the Palatine Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, and the Museum of Costume and Fashion where you can browse the stunning collections of ceramics, costumes and exquisite jewellery;
  • End your tour with a courtly stroll around the majestic grounds of the Boboli Gardens, filled with ancient and Renaissance statues, formal landscape architecture, grottos and architectural follies.

Set on the southern bank of the River Arno, this vast and magnificent Renaissance palace is a grandiose architectural statement of epic proportions, that tells of a rich and grandiose historic past. 

Commissioned in 1446 by Florentine banker Luca Pitti who aspired to live in a building so large it would dwarf all his enemies, the Palazzo Pitti has hosted a trio of noble families over the centuries: the House of Medici, the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and the kings of Italy, the House of Savoy. Now open to the public, at 32,000 square metres, the palazzo is the largest museum complex in Florence. 

On your tour, you will benefit from your expert guide’s compelling commentary and swerve queues and crowds. You’ll learn about how the Pitti’s rivals, the Medici Family, bought the Palazzo in 1550 and how it became a symbol of the power of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany’s ruling families. Located at the foot of Boboli Hill, the building’s forbidding design features a series of repeated arch-headed apertures reminiscent of a Roman aqueduct. 

In 1919, the palace and its contents were donated by King Victor Emmanuel III to the Italian people - and the gallery’s gilded paintings and priceless artefacts represent one of the most magnificent collections in the world today. Marvel at the 17th-century lavish, gilded interior decor - itself a magnum opus - and enjoy the world-class artistry in the Palatine Gallery, the Silver Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Costume Gallery, the Porcelain Museum and the Museum of Carriages. 

The grand, formal parklands of the historic Boboli Gardens, open to the public since 1766, is a fine example of an early "Italian Garden", and provides a fitting finale to a resplendent tour rich in courtly grandeur.
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