The oldest botanical garden in the world that is still in its original arrangement
In Padua there is a green oasis to discover: the Botanical Garden.
Founded in 1545, when academics of the University of Padua designed it to allow university students to learn about the plants from which they could extract medicinal properties, they decided to create a garden to grow ‘simple’ plants, that derived directly from nature and that at the time were the primary source of cures. Here’s why the first botanical gardens were named Horti simplicium, the Simple Gardens.
The Botanical Garden in Padua also takes its name from “Hortus Cinctus“, because it also contains an impressive circular enclosure, built shortly after it was created. Why was it built? To put a stop to night-time plant thieves that, because of their medicinal value, were also economically valuable.
The layout
The architectural installation of the Botanical Garden of Padua is evidence of the research into the equilibrium and perfection of form and shapes, which were central values of the Humanist philosophical movement.
Built around a circular area that represents the world, still to this day it maintains its original design. The plan highlights this geometric shape, and inside it there is a square split into four smaller squares by orthogonal paths, that follow the four cardinal directions.
Walking through the cosmological symbolisms and references of the Renaissance culture, through fountains, statues and the ancient trees, reveals the essence of a garden designed to preserve the fascinating ancient link between plants and mankind.
The botanical areas
Keeping its original design, the garden has been enriched over the years with a growing number of plants from all over the world. Today there are approximately 6000, mainly growing out in the open and labelled with little signs containing the scientific name of the species, the initials of the author that first studied it, the plant family, the place of origin and the date of plantation in the Gardens.
It is divided into botanical areas based on themes that divide the plants based on habitat and place of origin:
- Maquis shrubland
- Alpine rock
- freshwater environment whose pools are fed by a thermal spring
- succulent plants
- tropical orchid greenhouse
The oldest plant dates back to 1585: it’s a European fan palm, also known as Goethe’s palm because it inspired the German writer, visiting Padua in September 1786, to write a theory on the metamorphoses of plants.
The Giardino della Biodiversita (Garden of Biodiversity): the new face of the ancient Botanical Garden
In all these centuries, the suggestive atmosphere has never scratched the scientific vein of the Botanical Garden, even better they have strengthened each other. Today the site is a UNESCO World Heritage site and in 2014 it was enriched with the Garden of Biodiversity.
The new and massive structure (about 15,000m² in size) near Prato della Valle hosts an incredible variety of plants in futuristic structures, where the visitor goes through a journey through the Earth’s vegetation, inside the technologically advanced greenhouses. Inside, the species that are part of the disseminating project, live in habitats that replicate the different climates on our planet. In these habitats the plants also describe their relationship with mankind, being used for: food, cures and construction.
The Botanical Garden of Padua on your smartphone
An ideal guide for visitors, but also for botany and science enthusiasts in general, the free app Orto botanico di Padova di Università di Padova allows you to see which plants and species are present, the available itineraries and what’s been recently added.
The app for iOS
The Botanical Garden in Padua explained by Telmo Pievani
To start the visit before you’ve even arrived, we suggest you listen to “L’Orto Botanico di Padova raccontato da Telmo Pievani”. A narrator of excellence: philosopher and biology historian, he will take you from place to place in the garden that represents one of the best green jewels of Italy.
Important information to visit the Orto Botanico (Botanical Garden)
It’s possible to explore the Botanical Garden with guided tours.
There are also educational labs for children and teenagers.
The Botanical Garden also hosts important scientific and artistic events: Readings, guest speakers in various fields, concerts and theatrical shows.
Updates on the events, booking and buying tickets are all available on the website.
Where is it?
Via Orto Botanico 15
Distance from ApartmentsPadova: 850m (see map)
Photo via:
shutterstock.com
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