The Buontalenti Grotto

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The Buontalenti Grotto
Boboli Gardens
Florence, January 2020

“The Buontalenti Grotto (also called ‘Grotta Grande’ in Italian) is located in the far north of the Boboli Gardens alongside the entrance to the Vasari Corridor. The Grotto’s origins are linked to the construction of the aqueduct coming from the Ginevra spring, whose construction began in 1551 for the purposes of supplying water first to the Boboli Gardens and then to Palazzo Vecchio. In addition to the pipeline leading from the Gardens to the Palace, a reservoir was built to ensure a continuous water supply even during dry periods. The first works began in 1557 under the direction of Davide Fortini, son-in-law of architect and sculptor Niccolò Tribolo who oversaw the first project of the Boboli Gardens. The same year the task was passed to Giorgio Vasari, who created a façade with Tuscan columns and pilasters supporting an architraved pronaos. The façade featured two niches where the sculptures of Apollo and Ceres by Baccio Bandinelli would stand in 1560. The reservoir later lost its original function and Grand Duke Francesco I decided to transform it into a grotto. Between 1583 and 1587, Bernardo Buontalenti directed the reservoir's transformation, modifying Vasari's architectural layout and designing the entire decorative part. In 1583 the walls of the three rooms which make up the grotto were completed. Between 1583 and 1584, sculptor Piero di Tommaso Mati worked on creating the figures in the first room, completed the following year with the placement of Michelangelo's four Slaves in the corners of the room.” (Uffizi Gallery)