Boboli Gardens private tour
I love giving a Boboli Gardens private tour, as my University background was in architecture history and gardens history. It’s the perfect combination of art, architecture and nature, with the beautiful shapes of Florentine Renaissance.
Boboli is not just on the most beautiful gardens in the world, but is also a stunning open air museum with sculptures, fountains and architectures from the 16th century onwards.
The Boboli Gardens in Florence
The Boboli Gardens were built starting from the first half of the 16th century, by the will of Eleonora di Toledo, wife of the Grand Duke Cosimo I de ‘Medici. The gardens were the icing on the cake of the Medici family’s magnificent new residence, Palazzo Pitti. The first architect who designed Boboli was Niccolò Tribolo, who traced the first axis perpendicular to the building. Since the construction of the gardens took a very long time, on the death of Tribolo the works were carried out by Bartolomeo Ammannati and Bernardo Buontalenti, who built the famous grotto.
The making of the Boboli Gardens continued throughout the 17th century, when Giulio Parigi traced the second axis, adding new spaces with groves, lawns, fountains and sculptures.
In the following centuries the gardens were again enlarged and enriched with art. First by the Lorraine, who took over from the Medici as Grand Dukes of Tuscany, and who built the kaffehaus (Viennese-style coffeehouse). Then by the Savoy, the kings of Italy, who lived in Palazzo Pitti for the short period in which Florence was the capital of Italy.
Boboli Gardens private tour
The Boboli Gardens are huge and full of works of art, but if you don’t know where to look for them, you risk wandering around for hours, wasting time and energy. By visiting with a local tour guide you will learn everything about the art and history of the place. You’ll be also sure to optimize your time and not to miss any masterpieces, such as:
- The amphitheater
- The fountain of Neptune by Stoldo Lorenzi
- The Buontalenti Grotto
- The ancient Egyptian obelisk of Boboli
- The isolotto (the islet) with sculptures by Giambologna
- The kafeehaus from the 18th century.
The private guided tour ends inside the garden! So if you want you can spend more time in Boboli and relax in the shade of one of its ancient trees.
Remember to wear comfortable walking shoes, this tour requires light physical activity.
Info about the private tour
- Duration: 2 hours
- Meeting point: piazza Pitti
- Included: your local tour guide
- Not included: entrance tickets
Note: I can take care of the reservation for your skip the line tickets (which are highly recommended) so you only will have to enjoy the visit. Please be aware that in this case I will ask for a downpayment. I can also help you to book the tickets by your own.
Usually my standard Boboli Gardens private tour last 2 hours. But we can shape the visit according to your needs, making it longer or shorter.
- The entrance ticket to Boboli also include the entrance to the Bardini Gardens for the same day. So we can easily pair together the two guided tours.
Feel free to email me to get more infos, prices and to book your private tour using the form below.
For more information about the Boboli Gardens check the official website.