Florence Finds: Colossal Statue Just A Bus Ride Away

After almost a year of living and working in Florence, Italy, I thought I had pretty much seen it all. The popular tourist sites such as the Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michaelangelo, and the Duomo have somehow morphed from foreign sights to daily fixtures, the once unfamiliar streets of Florence as known to me as my hometown.

Therefore, I can’t help but be more than a little excited when I learn of something I have yet to discover near the city, and when I first heard about the colossal statue lying just outside of Florence, I knew a visit was in my future.

 

Getting There

One of the best things about living in Florence is the ability to leave the crowded city center and discover a completely different world-filled with the trees, rolling hills, olive groves, and vineyards of Tuscany in about 30 minutes.

To reach Parco Villa Demidoff, the area in which the colossal statue lies, one must take a short bus ride from Florence.

Simply hop on the 25A bus from Piazza San Marco and enjoy the views for about 45 minutes until you reach the end of the line, Pratolino. Your ticket will cost €1.20 one way, but I suggest purchasing your round trip tickets in Piazza San Marco for a total of €2.40 -not a bad price to see a unique piece of history if you ask me!

Parco Villa Demidoff

Immediately after exiting the bus you will encounter a sign reading “Parco Villa Demidoff” which points you in the direction of the park. FOLLOW THE SIGN. It should lead you to cross a street and immediately reach the park’s entrance.

I, however, decided to “off road” it (AKA ignore signage) and wander straight into an adventure park. The statue is NOT in the adventure park-save your shoes from the mud and yourself from the confusion.

Entering the Park

Good news- entrance is free! At the gates you will receive a ticket and a map before being set free to explore. The park is clearly labeled with signs pointing to all of the remaining structures in the gardens, and there are signs in English explaining what you are seeing.

I recommend bringing a picnic lunch to enjoy in the gardens while you take in the scenery. There are several benches scattered throughout the park perfect for eating.

Colosso dell’Appennino

While the park has several interesting areas to wander through, the most incredible site is the Colosso dell’Appennino or Appenine Colossus. Originally built by Gianbologna in 1579-1580, what remains of the statue is a wonder to behold.

Though many features throughout the park have been destroyed over time or donated to the Boboli Gardens, the restoration works ended in 2015 helped bring this incredible statue back to its former glory.

The front of the statue feature a massive crouching and heavily bearded man, crushing a monster, as if to squeeze water into the surrounding pond filled with fish and lily pads.

I highly recommend following the path to view the back of the statue, where a dragon sits over a cave which houses a smaller stature as well as a mosaic.

Also of Note

The colossal statue isn’t the only interesting sight to see in the park! If you continue wandering you will encounter the villa, which is there perfect place to stop and enjoy lunch.

Here you will also find the colossal statue’s original hands and feet, which gives you an idea of just how large the statue truly is-one toe is bigger than my entire foot!

Next to this area are three sculptures, which comically appear to be popping out of the ground. I couldn’t resist grabbing a photo!

Further down the way you can stop by a small octagonal chapel. Unfortunately is not open to visitors, however, you can peek through the windows to see the inside which features some religious artwork near the altar.

These are just a few of the sights to behold in Parco Villa Demidoff. Though my favorite was the Colosso dell’Appennino I really enjoyed my picnic in the park and wandering the grounds discovering this once-great garden.

Do you know of any off-the-beaten-path places to visit outside Florence? Be sure to comment so I can check them out!

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