Florence - Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens

I was up early, and down to breakfast shortly after 7. There had been a large group, mostly teenagers, checking in last night when I got back to the convent. I wondered if they'd be wiping out the breakfast buffet this morning, but I forgot they're kids and they wouldn't even be up yet.

I decided to visit the Pitti Palace today, and the Boboli gardens behind it. The Pitti Palace was purchased by the Medici family in 1550 and became the Grand Ducal residence of Cosimo de'Medici and the symbol of the great family's power over Tuscany. It continued to house 2 more family dynasties over the next 350 years and showcases many changes that were implemented over the centuries.

Sadly, I hadn't checked online to see if I needed a reservation to see the royal apartments. I did need a reservation, so I didn't get to see them. I know they were recently reopened after 5 years of renovation, and pictures online show them to be very sumptuous. 

The areas I was able to visit were amazing. I think of the army of servants it must have taken just to light the candles on all the candelabras pre-electricity.

This is just one of many candelabras in the palace

The rooms of the Palatine Gallery (early 1800s) were filled with paintings, sculptures and furnishings curated from the collection of the Medicis. The walls were so heavy with artworks in heavy frames, it made me wonder how they could even bear the weight of it all.

Nice bath nook, but no view?

A perfect entertainment center - if only they'd had a nice flat-screen TV in those days

So many candles!

The chapel (circa 1766) was jam-packed with beautiful paintings and sculptures too. 

The description of this altar says that the pictures 

are made of precious and semiprecious inlaid stones. 

One of the gigantic works of art on the walls of the chapel

The ceiling of the chapel

Boboli Gardens from the palace

The gardens are extensive and continue up hundreds of stairs to the top of the hill. I'm sure I didn't see every statue or fountain!

The view of the Duomo from the Boboli gardens

For dinner I returned to Cantina Barbagianni, where B.J. and I had such a great meal a few nights ago. It's not hard to get a table when you're the first one in line!