One of my favorite places in Florence is certainly Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. It’s an oasis of green and grandeur on the “other side” of the Arno River, just a few meters away from the famous Ponte Vecchio.
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Why Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens are a must-visit in Florence
There are many good reasons to visit Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. Leaving the historic center of Florence, you simply cross the Ponte Vecchio and walk a few meters down Via de’ Guicciardini until you come face to face with a large square, Piazza Pitti, and an enormous palace, Palazzo Pitti.
The Pitti square is a meeting point in Florence, where street performers entertain visitors in the summer, and people sit and enjoy the mild sun of the shoulder season in the autumn and spring.
For years, the Boboli Gardens have been one of the most beloved green spaces by the Florentines. While visitors from other cities pay to enter, Florentines have free access (but not through the main entrance). It’s a green oasis of beauty to relax the mind from the confusion and noise of the center.
As for Palazzo Pitti, the architecture of the building alone is enough to imagine the power of the families who lived there. There are many paintings, sculptures, and works of art to admire inside.
My family and I love visiting the palace, and each visit is a new experience. Sometimes we focus on the style of the imperial and royal apartments, while other times we look at the works of a particular artist. Sometimes we go for a walk in the Boboli Gardens, while other times we just stop at Piazza Pitti to admire the beauty of the place.
Below is a video I recorded on October 8, 2017 when my daughters were still little…
During our November 2022 visit, we were particularly struck by the room dedicated to Galileo Chini, a Florentine artist who also played an important role in the international and Mugello scene.
Would you like to create some beautiful memories in this special place too? Then keep reading for more tips.
Historical importance of Palazzo Pitti
When we talk about Palazzo Pitti, the first thing that comes to mind is the Medici family, one of the most important families in Florence. But it was thanks to the wife of a Medici, the Spanish Eleonora di Toledo, that today Palazzo Pitti is such a grand and beautiful building.
Splendor and beauty thanks to Eleonora di Toledo and Cosimo I de’ Medici
Palazzo Pitti became a symbol of Florence when it was purchased in 1550 by Cosimo I de’ Medici and his wife Eleonora di Toledo to become the new granducal residence.
At that time, the position of granduca was equivalent to that of a king or emperor. In other words, Palazzo Pitti would be the new residence of the “kings” of Florence, who until then lived in Palazzo Vecchio (in English, Old Palace).
Eleonora di Toledo wanted a residence with a garden to walk in, something that didn’t exist at Palazzo Vecchio. She decided to buy Palazzo Pitti for 9,000 gold shields. But, of course, the noble couple didn’t move immediately to the new palace. It was necessary to refurbish it first to turn it into a residence worthy of a granduca.
The Origin of Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
Palazzo Pitti is named after the Florentine banker Luca Pitti, who commissioned its construction according to a design by Brunelleschi. However, when Eleonora di Toledo bought it, it was a large, run-down property divided among several heirs.
With the purchase of Palazzo Pitti, Eleonora and Cosimo could create a royal residence that was spacious and secure, surrounded by greenery and protected by the city walls and nearby convents.
The first phase of renovations was carried out by Davide di Raffaello Fortini, and the new residence was depicted in a fresco in Palazzo Vecchio, where we can see that the rooms were decorated with paintings by Giorgio Vasari and Bernardo Buontalenti. The “Pitti vegetable garden” was located within the protective walls built by Cosimo I during the war against Siena (1546-1548), the 14th-century walls, the Porta Romana, and the houses on Via Romana. The area was known as “de’ Boboli,” an old toponym that indicated wooded areas.
The land that once belonged to the Pitti family was expanded northward (toward the Arno River) with the purchase of two plots that belonged to the nuns of Santa Felicita (1550) and the Guidi di Monterigoli (1551).
Niccolò Pericoli, also known as Tribolo, who had already created a splendid garden for Cosimo I at the Villa Medicea di Castello, was commissioned to design the new Boboli Gardens.
When Pericoli died in September 1550, the work was continued by his son-in-law Davide Fortini, who merely followed the already defined project. A series of renowned architects at the court were called in, such as Marco del Tasso, Giorgio Vasari, and Bartolomeo Ammannati. The main area of the garden in the shape of a U, reminiscent of ancient amphitheaters, was obtained from a quarry used for the construction of the building.
In the area towards Santa Felicita, the “Grotticina di Madama” was built, with grotesque paintings by Francesco Bachiacca and Giovanni Fancelli representing cherubs, capricorns, and zoomorphic figures. In that area, a “secret garden” also appears, intended for the cultivation of small fruit trees and a vegetable garden. A complex network of drainage channels and an efficient hydraulic system had to be created for the plantings, fountains, and grottoes.
In 1562, Eleonora di Toledo died, and the Palazzo Pitti factory passed entirely into the hands of Cosimo I, who considered the idea of creating a grand palace that would represent his power and social status as the ruler of a politically relevant regional state in the European scene. Cosimo entrusted the difficult task of finishing the building to Bartolomeo Ammannati, who became the director of the Palazzo Pitti factory in July 1561.
Residence of Kings and Nobles
The Pitti Palace was also the residence of two other dynasties: the House of Habsburg-Lorraine (successors of the Medici from 1737 with the death of Anna Maria Luisa de ‘Medici) and the Savoy who lived there as Kings of Italy from 1865.
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Discover the Treasures of Palazzo Pitti
Inside Palazzo Pitti, there are 5 different museums.
On the ground floor, you can find the Tesoro dei Granduchi and the Museo delle Icone Russe, with the Cappella Palatina.
On the first floor, considered the noble floor, you can find the Galleria Palatina and the Imperial and Royal Apartments.
Here you will find the largest concentration of Raphael’s works in the world, as well as paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, and Rubens.
You will pass through the rooms of the planets where the works of art combine with the rest of the decoration.
On the second floor, there are the Galleria d’Arte Moderna and the Museo della Moda e del Costume.
Tickets to Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
Below you can check the official price list for tickets to Palazzo Pitti, Boboli Gardens, and the combined ticket for Palazzo Pitti + Boboli Gardens.
| Category | Price | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Palazzo Pitti – Adults / Full price | Euro 16.00 | buy here |
| Palazzo Pitti – 0-17 years (free) | Euro 0.00 | buy here |
| Palazzo Pitti – EU citizens aged 18-25 | Euro 2.00 | buy here |
| Boboli Gardens – Adults / Full price | Euro 10.00 | buy here |
| Boboli Gardens – 0-17 years (free) | Euro 0.00 | buy here |
| Boboli Gardens – EU citizens aged 18-25 | Euro 2.00 | buy here |
| Palazzo Pitti + Boboli Gardens (Combined ticket) | Euro 22.00 |
The above prices are valid for tickets purchased at the ticket office. There may be lines to enter. For advance online purchases, there is an additional fee of 3 euros.
Tickets to Palazzo Pitti give access to the Galleria Palatina, Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Tesoro dei Granduchi, Museo delle Icone Russe, and Cappella Palatina.
Those who prefer to buy priority tickets online and avoid queues can purchase tickets on the official website for Palazzo Pitti tickets with an additional fee of 3 euros and a non-refundable cancellation policy.
ATTENTION TO RESIDENTS IN THE COMUNE DI FIRENZE: admission to the Boboli Gardens is free for those who reside in the Comune di Firenze. To enter for free, access is through the Porta Romana and Annalena and through the entrance at the Forte di Belvedere. It is not possible to enter through the central gate of Palazzo Pitti. Residents must present a valid identification document that attests to their residence to have free admission.
Palazzo Pitti Timetable
The Palazzo Pitti and its museums are open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, with opening hours from 8.15am to 6.30pm. However, it’s important to note that the museum is closed on Mondays, as well as on 1st January and 25th December.
Visitors are advised that the ticket office closes one hour before the museum’s closing time, so it’s important to plan accordingly. It’s also important to note that, until further notice, the Imperial Apartments and the Museum of Costume and Fashion are closed for refurbishment works.
The Royal and Imperial Apartments reopened in January 2025!
Despite these closures, visitors can still enjoy the Palazzo Pitti’s other attractions, including the Galleria Palatina, Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Tesoro dei Granduchi, Museo delle Icone Russe, and Cappella Palatina. And for those who want to skip the ticket line, it’s possible to purchase tickets online with an additional fee of 3 euros.
Boboli Gardens Timetable
The Palazzo Pitti, located in Florence, Italy, is open to visitors every day of the week. However, opening and closing hours vary depending on the month.
The Boboli Gardens opens at 8:15 am and closes at 4:30 pm in January, February, November, and December. In March and October, with standard time, the closing hour is 5:30 pm. With daylight savings time in March, and in April, May, September, and October, the closing time is 6:30 pm. In June, July, and August, visitors have until 7:10 pm to enjoy the museum.
The Boboli Gardens is closed on the first and last Monday of each month. It is also closed on Christmas Day. Visitors should note that the Porcelain Museum is closed until further notice due to refurbishment works.
Visitors are advised to arrive early as the ticket office closes one hour before the museum’s closing time. The Imperial Apartments and the Museum of Costume and Fashion are currently closed for refurbishment until further notice. Additionally, visits to the mezzanine floor of the Treasure of the Grandukes are suspended until further notice.
Finally, visitors to the Boboli Gardens should note that the last admission is always one hour before the closing time. The Gardens may also be closed or have their opening hours changed due to weather emergencies that could pose a risk to people or damage the property.
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