On the last day of March, we awoke to a gorgeous sunny day, with just a bit of chill in the air. A perfect day to stroll through the gardens, Boboli Gardens that is. I had yet to visit these beautiful gardens because I was hoping to see them for the first time with Chip. Today I would get my wish.
The Boboli Gardens were laid out in 1550 for none other than the Medici. They sit behind the Medicis’ Palazzo Pitti, which they had purchased the year before. In 1776 these beautiful Renaissance-style gardens were first opened to the public. The gardens cover an immense 49,000 yards, and are filled with not just nature, but art. They’re so huge that visitors should really be given a map when entering, but we found that we were on our own. So we just began wandering.
Paths meander every which way, and around corners you’re suddenly treated with amazing views back over Florence. There are box hedges, cypress trees, flowers in bloom, statues, sculptures, ponds, fountains, and plenty of strategically placed benches. We especially loved seeing Buontalenti’s Grotto, complete with the Medici shield crowning it. Although it’s only open a few times during the day, we were able to get a peek inside.
Our favorite view from the garden was from the terrace where the Porcelain Museum is located. This terrace contains a rose garden and has spectacular views over a meadow and the Tuscan countryside. We stayed up there quite a while.
When we got back home, the phone rang. It was Laurie asking if we’d like to go out to dinner with her and Kathleen. They came by our place since they hadn’t had a chance to see it the night before, and we enjoyed a glass of wine on my rooftop terrace. Then we went to dinner at Nella, one of my favorite trattorias, which I discovered my second night in Florence. I had the most amazing dish: pheasant prepared with pasta. We ended the dinner with Lorenzo’s wonderful homemade panna cotta, definitely the best in Florence. The perfect ending to another wonderful day.
On the last day of March, we awoke to a gorgeous sunny day, with just a bit of chill in the air. A perfect day to stroll through the gardens, Boboli Gardens that is. I had yet to visit these beautiful gardens because I was hoping to see them for the first time with Chip. Today I would get my wish.
The Boboli Gardens were laid out in 1550 for none other than the Medici. They sit behind the Medicis’ Palazzo Pitti, which they had purchased the year before. In 1776 these beautiful Renaissance-style gardens were first opened to the public. The gardens cover an immense 49,000 yards, and are filled with not just nature, but art. They’re so huge that visitors should really be given a map when entering, but we found that we were on our own. So we just began wandering.
Paths meander every which way, and around corners you’re suddenly treated with amazing views back over Florence. There are box hedges, cypress trees, flowers in bloom, statues, sculptures, ponds, fountains, and plenty of strategically placed benches. We especially loved seeing Buontalenti’s Grotto, complete with the Medici shield crowning it. Although it’s only open a few times during the day, we were able to get a peek inside.
Our favorite view from the garden was from the terrace where the Porcelain Museum is located. This terrace contains a rose garden and has spectacular views over a meadow and the Tuscan countryside. We stayed up there quite a while. 
When we got back home, the phone rang. It was Laurie asking if we’d like to go out to dinner with her and Kathleen. They came by our place since they hadn’t had a chance to see it the night before, and we enjoyed a glass of wine on my rooftop terrace. Then we went to dinner at Nella, one of my favorite trattorias, which I discovered my second night in Florence. I had the most amazing dish: pheasant prepared with pasta. We ended the dinner with Lorenzo’s wonderful homemade panna cotta, definitely the best in Florence. The perfect ending to another wonderful day. 
No comments:
Post a Comment