Giardino Boboli

As you wander past ancient oak trees, ornate fountains and colourful flower beds, you won’t be surprised to learn that Giardino Boboli took four hundred years to design and create. As one of the city’s best open-air museums, the gardens sit alongside Pitti Palace, making this a great way to spend an entire morning or afternoon.

Entering the gardens, you’ll walk through the palace courtyard before making your way up the steps to a beautiful fountain, nicknamed ‘the artichoke’ by locals. Continue on to the amphitheatre before climbing up to Neptune’s Fountain, otherwise known as ‘the Fork’, where you can take pictures of this famous monument.

As you explore the gardens, you’ll come across lots of Roman and Renaissance statues, alongside terraces, archways, and a wide avenue leading to a large 17th century pond. Look out for the Koffeehouse, the Garden of the Cavaliere and the Large Grotto as you wander past the bright green sloping lawns.

Giardino Boboli is worth a visit no matter the season. In the spring the garden comes to life with colour, while in the summer there are plenty of places to relax in the cool shade of the trees. Through to autumn, the colours of the trees begin to change through yellows, oranges and reds.

For views across the Tuscan countryside, make sure you walk up to the rose garden, at the top of Giardino Boboli.

After exploring the gardens, take your time browsing the artefacts at the Silver Museum, Porcelain Museum and Costume Gallery before heading back to the city centre.

More Things To Do ideas

Find more Things To Do in Florence: Florence Cathedral | Piazzale Michelangelo | Ponte Vecchio | Uffizi Gallery