‘Riding Through Time’ Exhibition & Horse Parade

A horse parade will take place in the Boboli Gardens on Sunday, October 7 from 3 – 6 pm, and includes a guided tour of the exhibition “Riding Through Time from Antiquity to the Middle Ages” at 5:30 pm, in the garden’s Limonaia (The Lemon House).  Guests need to reserve the guided visit ahead of time by calling (+39) 055/294883.

“Riding Through Time” is a small show focusing on the age-old bond between men and horses. It covers over 2,000 years from the Early Iron Age to the late Middle Ages, which is further broken down into five time periods covering: prehistory, the world of Greece and Magna Grecia (Greek colonies in southern Italy), the Etruscan world, the Roman Imperial period, and the Middle Ages.

The display showcases amphora containers used to carry oil, water, and wine beautifully designed with different intricate pictures of horses, men, gods, and goddesses. Walking through the museum one will see ancient bronze and steel spurs, breastplates, and helmets, and ornament forehead masks and decorative collars made for the war horses. There are large horse sculptures and paintings that depict stories. One of the best pieces is the bronze horse head that is the logo of the show. The exhibition space is located inside the Boboli Gardens to the right.

“Riding Through Time” will be open until October 14, 2018 from 10 am to 6 pm. The admission is €10 per person, but is free to those who are under the age of 18 or who are disabled.

The Traditional Horse Parade on October 7 is a historical reenactment.  The horses will prance through the Boboli Gardens dressed up and ridden by noble knights dressed in medieval armor. Another must see are the Boboli Gardens. The maze of a garden is luscious and green scattered with ponds and sculptures including one of the winged mythological horse Pegasus.  Watching history take place is a once in a life time opportunity.  (sienna kirk)