Botanical Garden
of Padua
Padua
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The Botanical Garden of Padua is the oldest university scientific garden in the world still in its original site. Founded in 1545, its creation was driven by the University of Padua’s strong interest in the use of plants in medicine and pharmacology. Due to the value and rarity of the species kept and studied here, the garden was subject to numerous thefts, which led, in 1552, to the construction of a circular wall, the Hortus Cintus, still visible today. In 2014, the new Garden of Biodiversity greenhoause was inaugurated, significantly expanding the surface area of the garden.
THIS PLACE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
The Botanical Garden is of great historical and scientific importance and was therefore inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The international body recognised it as “the origin of all botanical gardens in the world” and “the cradle of science, scientific exchange, and understanding of the relationship between nature and culture.”
It has played a crucial role in the progression of many modern scientific disciplines, including botany, medicine, chemistry, ecology, and pharmacy. Today, it is home to over 6,000 cultivated plants representing 3,500 different species, and its modern Biodiversity Garden is one of the most advanced greenhouses in the world, using innovative technologies to address contemporary issues such as climate change.