Italian Road Trip #7 - Exploring Boboli Gardens

Hey, fellow Steemians!

After spending time soaking in Florence’s beautiful architecture and charming alleys, we decided to change the scenery a little and get in touch with nature without leaving the city. One of us being a landscape architect, an obvious choice for a visit was Boboli Gardens. This green oasis is only 10 minutes away from the center by foot.

We reached the upper entrance located right next to Belvedere Fort and we were lucky to find no crowd or line for tickets.

The ticket costs €10 per person and in addition to Boboli it lets you visit Porcelain Museum and Bardini Gardens. As soon as we entered the complex we were amazed at the sheer vastness of it.

The first work of art we encountered was the Fountain of the Fork, dedicated to Neptune, Roman God of the Sea. We often noticed Neptune being featured on fountains (in Rome, Bologna etc.) which is pretty cool and clever considering he is a water deity. In the background of this fountain were cascading terraces which reminded us of rolling Tuscan hills. Don’t know if this was intentional, but in our minds we were hoping it was.

When we turned our gaze opposite of the fountain we were astonished by a great view of Pitti Palace! It took us a little while to reach it from the top of the hill since it appeared much closer than it was, thanks to its size. It was probably that particular thing that grabbed the attention of the Medici family who bought this palace in 1550. But it was maybe the gardens more than the palace that showed their luxurious lifestyle. Having an 11-acre garden in the middle of the city is all but a humble investment.

Walking the wide pathways we noticed many sculptures and works of art, coinciding with nature in perfect harmony and conveying the true spirit of Florence. In many places, the plants and trees adapted to the work of artists who made these statues creating a contrast of colors. Thinking about it now, it occurred to us the gardens were almost like an open-air museum.

We circled around, entering narrow green alleys, sometimes even tunnels that create a dense shade. Strolling under canopies, the path led us to a wide avenue formed by two lines of very high cypress trees.

The giant trees towered above us, making us feel tiny compared to (as they say) 400 years of nature’s craft. Imagine how many generations of people before us walked beneath these same trees!

Here, at the base of the cypress lane, it felt like a good time to get some rest. Fortunately, there were many benches placed in a circle around the large fountain called Fountain of the Ocean. We enjoyed the peaceful scenery and the pleasant smell of citrus plants occupying the center of the pond. In the meantime, we had fun watching a couple of turtles climbing a small rock above the water.

As we made our way towards the exit, we went around the Pitti Palace and were again surprised by an interesting view of Florence old town (of course, dominated by Duomo). Having gone through the front door and passing around the crowd at the entrance, we sat on the floor in front of the outer side of the palace, joining other people as they relaxed.

We hope you liked this post. See you soon, travelers! :)