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Whatever you do- DO NOT USE GOOGLE MAPS TO WALK TO BOBOLI GARDENS

We decided to walk from the Uffizi to the Boboli Gardens. This was an unplanned trip, so I hadn't checked directions ahead of time or saved them in my phone. We just tapped in "Boboli Gardens", got a "12 min to walk" note and set off.

It kept lengthening as we went and then finally, we got to a padlocked gate. At that point, we were on the opposite side of the gardens to the main entrance and had walked a couple of miles. I'd chalk it up to my sheer idiocy, but we were in company with a couple in their 20s, a family, and another small group and we only took the train into Florence that same morning and had not gotten the lay of the land.

We kept going the same direction since we'd already made it halfway (so we thought), but it was trying to take us to the center of the gardens from the rear, which is not possible. We ended up walking around 6 miles total and missed our entrance time. They still let us in, but no one wanted to walk around the gardens and everyone was extremely irritable and blistered at that point.

The address should be Piazza dei Pitti 1

Posted by
2558 posts

As with any mapping software including Garmin, it is always wise to check a physical map before setting out. We can’t always rely on tech. It’s not infallible. That being said I’m sorry you had such a frustrating and exhausting experience.

Posted by
1806 posts

Tough break - the pedestrian equivalent of Google taking you straight into a ZTL, except with a lot more effort.

Posted by
564 posts

The problem, if I'm right, is that in the past was possible enter into the Boboli garden from the Forte Belvedere entrance. Now, due to Covid, that entrance has been closed. Is written in the Italian webpage (https://www.imuseidifirenze.it/palazzo-pitti/giardini-di-boboli/#ingresso-e-mappa) of the museum, but not on the English version (https://www.florenceartmuseums.com/pitti-palace/boboli-gardens/). Is possible that soon even the forte Belvedere entrance will be opened again. In any case is to blame more the museum Direction to forget to write it in the webpage than Google Map.

Posted by
17572 posts

We used a paper map and also ended up at a locked gate on the wrong side —-so we went to Giardini Bardini instead. Very nice garden.

Posted by
10336 posts

Oh man, I am sorry. Those types of experiences are so frustrating !

Posted by
16168 posts

The only entrance open has been the main one from Palazzo Pitti for many years (since they started charging for the Gardens). Many years ago you could enter from near Porta Romana and from Forte di Belvedere, and it was free.

Posted by
295 posts

Thank you all, for the commiseration, lol...

I'm just trying to spare anyone who is planning a trip- thus the all caps to attract the attention of people adding it to their itinerary, but perhaps not everyone is so silly and doesn't need the warning. ;)

Lola, that was a good move!