One of the highlights of Boboli Gardens in Florence is the Buontalenti Grotto, or Grotta Grande. An awesome example of Mannerist art, this otherworldly grotto is filled with references to alchemy and symbols linked to the Medici family. As rulers of Florence, the Medici commissioned the grotto to artists like Vasari and Buontalenti, and placed some statues here by Michelangelo, to create a special space in which to relax.
Boboli Gardens Grotto
Grotta Grande or Buontalenti Grotto – A bit of history
The Buontalenti Grotto in Boboli Gardens began its life in 1557 as a water reservoir – to supply water to the gardens and the Palazzo Vecchio. But later it became an artistic project for Francesco I de’ Medici, the Gran Duke of Florence who was more captivated by art and alchemy than politics. In 1583 he gave his favourite architect Bernardo Buontalenti the job of creating and decorating this artificial grotto.
Why a grotto? During the 16th centuries grottoes became a must-have feature. Having one in your garden made it truly special. This trend started in Italy, and soon spread to European courts. Artists went to study ancient art and architecture in Rome and brought back ideas and inspiration. Ancient Romans were in fact already building artificial grottoes for different purposes, from water reserves to ritual sites. They were made to look real, often adorned with shells, corals, pebbles, mosaics. Statues of animals, nymphs, or other amphibious creatures emerging from rocks were common, and the moss growing on the grotto’s surfaces would enhance the fusion of natural and artificial elements.
Join a Guided Tour of Boboli Gardens to discover all the symbols and history of this wondrous Florentine garden: have a professional guide share stories about the garden’s design!
Buontalenti Grotto – Decorations, Statues and Symbols
The whole of Boboli Gardens’ architectural design is characterised by a series of intriguing symbols. Walking around the garden feels like a multilayered journey, full of messages and symbolism that would have been highly significant at the time of its creation.
The Grotta Grande itself has its share of hidden meanings. It is made up of three consecutive rooms. Each one representing a journey into the belly of the grotto: the deeper you go, the more complex the meanings become.
The Three Rooms
The theme of the first room, that celebrates Nature, is Metamorphosis. It looks like a fantastical park, where exotic animals, multicoloured birds and satyrs live in harmony. The surface of the walls, covered in sponges and stalactites, seem to teem with life. Shepherds and animals emerge from the rock. At the four corners there are the unfinished statues by Michelangelo, known as “the Slaves” (Prigioni). They seem to have been awakened by some arcane force, and are struggling to free themselves from the rock. (Note that these are copies – the original Michelangelo statues are at the Accademia Gallery in Florence).
The second room hosts the statue of “Elena and Teseo” (Helen and Theseus). Helen of Troy was the beautiful daughter of Zeus and a mortal woman. The statue represents the episode when as a young girl, she was abducted by Theseus. This room represents Passion and Love as forces that move the Universe, according to the theories of humanist philosopher Marsilio Ficino.
The third and last room is egg-shaped. The egg was an important symbol in alchemy: Egg as the origin of Universe – here decorated with natural elements: vines, flowers and birds. At the centre of this room there’s the graceful Statue of Venus by Giambologna, one of the most appreciated Mannerist artists that was working in Florence in the 16th century.
Venus is the symbol of Love that moves the Universe, giving life to all nature. The Goddess of Love and Beauty was a popular subject for Renaissance art -> e.g. think about the painting “Birth of Venus” by Botticelli.
Boboli Gardens Grotto – Water, Alchemy and Meanings
You have to think that originally these decorative elements were surrounded by, and interacted with, water. Grottoes like the Buontalenti Grotto used to have fountains and water features that would reflect the figurative elements. Water and light, descending from the hole in the ceiling, contributed to give life and movement to the space, and create a special energy.
Today the water element is recalled by the numerous shells that decorate the walls.
Entering the grotto is in itself a path of initiation, helped by the progressive symbols – from Carnal to Alchemic Love – Love as a source of Life for all Nature. The deeper you travel inside the grotto, the more the mysteries of nature are revealed to you.
The grotto has undergone many restoration works throughout the centuries, to maintain its delicate environment.
Where you find the Buontalenti grotto
If you enter the Boboli gardens from the Palazzo Pitti entrance, you find the grotto on your left hand side at the far end of the Corridoio Vasariano.
The ticket is included in the entrance to Boboli Garden.
Grotto Opening hours: from 11am-1pm and 3pm-4pm.
Other grottoes in Boboli Gardens
The Buontalenti Grotto is the most famous and fascinating, but there are other two grottoes in Boboli Gardens:
Grotticina della Madama, or delle Capre – by the same Bountalenti. This small grotto is decorated with sponges, stalactites and a marble basin where four goats stand – this used to be a fountain. Goat (Capricorn) was an important symbol for the Medici – Cosimo I used it to signify strength. In Florence you’ll see many goat decorations related to Medici’s places.
Grotta di Annalena is the most recent of the Boboli grottoes, (and for us the least fascinating!) built in 1817. It’s near the entrance of Porta Romana, and has a statue with Adam and Eve by Naccherino (18th century).
In the courtyard of Pitti Palace, right before the entrance to Boboli Garden, there’s the Grotta di Mose (17th century), that takes its name from the gigantic statue of Moses. In the basin, swim two marble putti.
After a visit to Boboli Gardens, you might want to check other Beautiful Gardens in Florence and Tuscany to visit.
10 Non-touristy things to do in Florence
3 Books about the Medici family you have to read!
Some of the information for this article have been taken by the informative book ‘I giardini di Boboli’ by Mariella Zoppi, Angelo Ponti Editore.
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