The reason the palace is called the Pitti Palace is because the first owner (a banker) was named Luca Pitti who began construction in 1418. The Medici's bought the property in 1550 after the marriage of the very beautiful Eleonora of Toldeo to Cosimo. You can see a painting of Eleonora in a beautiful dress in the Uffizi Museum. Somebody opened her tomb, and she was buried in the same outfit! When she was reburied the dress appeared at the costume museum here. I'd be really ticked-off if I was her! There's no doubt I'd be haunting whoever made that decison!

Anyhow, it was Eleonora's influence that created the gardens in the first place. I can just hear her saying " Honey??? Don't you think a grotto would look lovely off to the left?"

Of course, Big Dog Cosimo wanted the best, so he hired Niccolo Pericoli who was a rival of Michelangelo. What is important for you to remember is that this design is the very basis of every single royal garden in Europe...including Versaille! The original design had the grande Grotto, the fountains and statues designed by Ammannati, the stone amplitheater used for plays and concerts, the cypress alley known as the " Vittalone", the garden of the knights where the porcelein museum now resides, and the pond of Isolotto. Later additions (1700's) were the coffee house, the lemonary, and the lawn of columns.

The gadens were not opened to the public until Pietri Leopoldo followed the French habit in 1776. Guess he didn't want heads to roll in Italy? What a treat to wander the 14 ft. tall maze on a warm spring day! Grab a latte at the coffee house and enjoy the expansive lawn that frames the panoramic view of Florence beyond. On a sunny day you can see snow on the mountains beyond. Climb the steps to the Knights garden and sit for awhile on the low wall of the formal garden to view the green rolling hills beyond. Once warmed by the sun, we headed to the shady cypress alley that will give you virtego as you look down it. I walked in and out of the arched grapevine alleys that flank the walk down to the pond of Isolotto which is a feast for the eyes, and then circled back to the Grande Grotto.

Just a short walk across the Pointe Vecchio (Old Bridge) and you are there. A small admission fee (about $4 - US) gains admission to these lovely gardens.

There are fountains, a grotto, an amphitheatre, an oblisk from Egypt and ponds and statuary abound. The manicured paths lead past beautiful marble statues of every imaginable size and shape. Swans skim the tranquil pond and a gorgeous young Italian couple kiss beneath the umbrella of trees as we look out from the 'Kaffeehaus' (the highest point in the Gardens) to the fantastic view of Florence beyond. Two old women smile as they walk past, arm-in-arm, obviously enjoying a walk they have taken frequently and pleased that we too are enjoying the beauty 'their' gardens.

We (my husband & I and two friends from Oregon)found it really funny when we come upon a statue of a fat naked man sitting atop a turtle. (I'm told this is the dwarf of Cosimo I with Baccus astride its back) -- But I'm still not sure---WHY???? There is no explanation of WHY Baccus chooses to ride a turtle, but it makes for a good laugh.

You will surely enjoy the Bobboli Gardens and the opportunity it offers to take a break from the otherwise fast pace of the art museums and tour guides.