Giardino della Villa Medicea di Castello
Medici garden of the 16th century at Castello, designed by Tribolo, with the Grotta degli Animali, the Fountain of Hercules and Antaeus and the citrus garden.
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About the museum
The Villa Medicea di Castello is one of the oldest country residences of the Medici, owned by the family since 1477. Cosimo I was fond of it and, from 1537, commissioned Tribolo to renovate it. The name derives from a cistern connected to an ancient Roman aqueduct. Since 1966 the villa has housed the Accademia della Crusca and for this reason is usually closed to visitors, while the garden is open to the public.
The garden was designed in 1538 at the behest of Cosimo I and is one of the first examples of the Italian-style garden of the 16th century. On the first terrace stands the fountain of Hercules and Antaeus, the work of Tribolo and Pierino da Vinci, surmounted by the bronze group by Bartolomeo Ammannati. At the end of the main avenue opens the Grotta degli Animali, also known as the Grotta del Diluvio (Grotto of the Flood), designed by Tribolo to imitate a natural cave and populated by groups of coloured animals.
The route continues through the wooded area of the “Selvatico”, with a large basin decorated by a bronze by Ammannati, and the second terrace, the citrus garden, with about five hundred potted plants, including rare varieties. Some scholars believe that the flowers of the garden inspired Botticelli’s Primavera, painted for the villa and now in the Uffizi.
The garden is managed by the Gallerie degli Uffizi and has charged admission since October 2025.
Highlights
- Fountain of Hercules and Antaeus by Tribolo and Pierino da Vinci, with Ammannati’s bronze
- Grotta degli Animali (or Grotta del Diluvio) designed by Tribolo
- Citrus garden with about 500 potted plants
- Wooded area of the “Selvatico” with Ammannati’s large basin
- Early example of the Italian-style garden of the 16th century
- Operated by
- Gallerie degli Uffizi (Ministero della Cultura)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 23,044
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
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| Reduced | €2Young people aged 18 to 25 |
| Annual pass | €16Unlimited entries |
The garden has charged admission since 7 October 2025. Reductions and free admission follow the rules applied to state museums.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
The garden is in Castello, in the north of Florence, on Via di Castello.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Good to know | The villa, seat of the Accademia della Crusca, is not normally open to visitors; the garden is visited. At the Grotta degli Animali water games are scheduled at set times (to be checked before the visit). |
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