Boboli Gardens in Florence

Boboli Gardens are considered the consummate of a formal Italian Garden. An Italian Garden (in contrast to an English Garden) is man’s idea of controlling nature. It is very organized, green rather than floral, and ties together art and nature. Statuary is everywhere. Trees and shrubs are shaped in precise designs. Despite extensive tampering during the centuries and changes due to the natural life-cycle of plants and trees Boboli still maintains a clearly recognisable form. It still has the architectural and decorative setting which was conceived in the 16^th century by architect Niccolò Pericoli, known as “il Tribolo” for the Medici family. Boboli as such is a historic garden. There is a fee to enter, opening and closing times and picnics are not encouraged. It is a magical place though, and quite large, so if you visit in the spring or in the fall remember to bring a hat, a bottle of water, and get ready to be transported into the magnificent courtly life of the past.

 

The Ragnaie and the Fountain of the Mostaccini

This is a section of the gardens which was extended from the original nucleus in the 17^th century under Cosimo II’s rule by Giulio Parigi. The garden’s axis became the wide Cypress Lane that leads to the striking Island Pond made in the first part of the century. South of the lane three large labyrinths were planted (unfortunately destroyed in 1834). On either side of the cypress lane there is a walkway covered by holm-oak branches. This gives great shade from the summer sun. Here was the ragnaia, a place designed for bird hunting with nets. At the end of this walkway you come to a low wall with monstrous masks decorated where once there was a long cascading chain of water.
These monsters with their strange, distorted faces (very Mannerist) are called Mostaccini, perhaps in reference to their strange moustaches. Imagine water slowly running down this fountain and there you have it- a drinking trough to lure birds in- who would later be hunted by our Medici Dukes and their guests.

Island Pond     

The end of the Cypress Lane brings you to the Island Pond (Vasca dell’Isola). The pond itself is made up of a large oval basin with a small island in the center. Surrounding the area is holm oak with various sculptures from the 17^th century depicting peasants or hunters, according to the aesthetic sense of the time and the bucolic nature of the garden. 

Access to the pond is through two gates upheld by marble Capricorns (symbolising Cosimo I de’ Medici). 

In the middle is a statue of the God Ocean. Surrounding Ocean are potted citrus trees which were so special to the Medicis. This family was the first to collect citrus fruit in potted vases, as they do not normally grow in Tuscany (the winters are too cold). So the plants were considered extravagant and exotic. The citrus plants were moved inside in the colder months, into special buildings built for this purpose called a “limonaia”.

Look for other posts this summer about more sections of the grandiose Boboli gardens and other special gardens in Florence. 

- Photos and Post by Elizabeth