Pisa | University Botanic Garden and Museum

The Botanical Garden of Pisa was founded in 1543 with the doctor and botanist Luca Ghini, called by Cosimo I De ‘Medici to establish a “Garden of Simples” university. It soon became the oldest university botanical garden in the world. Originally built on the banks of the Arno River, it was moved in 1591 to its present location near Piazza dei Miracoli, to be expanded to its current size of three hectares.

The seven sectors of the garden
The Botanical Garden is organized in seven sectors: Scuola Botanica, Orto del Cedro, Orto del Mirto, Serre, Piazzale Arcangeli, Orto Nuovo, Orto Del Gratta. Each sector houses one or more collections organized on a scientific basis for a total of about 6000 plants from the five continents: succulents from the African and American deserts; aromatic plants from the Mediterranean maquis; species from the Tuscan marshes; numerous centuries-old trees.

The Botanical Museum
The Botanical Museum, heir to the Gallery founded in 1591 by Ferdinando I de’ Medici, still preserves the Picture Gallery, composed of 17th century portraits of illustrious botanists, the monumental doorway of the entrance to the Gallery and the “Studiolo” for the seeds of the Botanical Garden. The Museum is located in the premises of the ancient foundry, called “Palazzo delle Conchiglie” for its original facade decorated in grotesque style.

The Museum houses objects related to the teaching of university botany at the end of the eighteenth century: true works of art, such as botanical models in wax and plaster and watercolor teaching tables, but above all the historical collections of plants of the Herbarium (Herbarium Horti Botanici Pisani), accessible to scholars, by appointment, or using the multimedia stations in the Museum.

Every first Sunday of the month, free entrance.

The Botanical Garden and Museum are part of the Museum System of the University of Pisa.