Giulio Parigi

Who was Giulio Parigi?

Giulio Parigi was an Italian architect and designer. He was the main member of a family of architects and designers working for the Grand Ducal court of the Medici. His father, Alfonso Parigi the Elder, was an architect and designer working in Florence for the Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Through his father's collaborations under the court architect Bernardo Buontalenti, Giulio Parigi was trained in the practice of architecture. Following Buontalenti's death he designed and oversaw the creation of the elaborate ephemeral decorations for court festivities, in which he was an influence on Inigo Jones, who was providing similar services in the same years for the court of James I of England. Giulio worked on the Boboli Gardens, constructing the Grotto of Vulcan and laying out the second axis of the Boboli Gardens, at right angles to the first, with the bosquets on either side.

Giulio rebuilt the Villa di Poggio Imperiale, and constructed the Ospedale dei Medicanti, the church of San Felice in Piazza and worked on projects for the Palazzo della Crocetta for Maria Maddalena de' Medici. His is also the grand stairs of Palazzo Gianni-Lucchesini-Vegni.