Gardens Near and Far episode 20: Located in North East of Italy, in the heart of Veneto, the garden of Padua is the oldest botanical garden in the world. Founded in 1545, it dates back to the origin of botanical science.
With its plants from all over the world and its ancient trees from Asia, the garden of Padua takes us on a journey back in time. The botanical garden’s library contains a great many works that retrace the evolution of the science of plants, from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Gardens Near and Far episode 20 – Garden of Padua
The Orto Botanico di Padova is a botanical garden in Padua, in the northeastern part of Italy. Founded in 1545 by the Venetian Republic, it is the world’s oldest academic botanical garden that is still in its original location. The garden, affiliated with the University of Padua, currently covers roughly 22,000 square meters, and is known for its special collections and historical design.
The Garden of Padua was founded upon deliberation of the Senate of the Venetian Republic. It was devoted to the growth of medicinal plants, the so-called “simple plants” (Orto dei semplici – simples were herbs that were used as they are rather than in admixtures) which produced natural remedies, and also to help students distinguish genuine medicinal plants from false ones.
A circular wall enclosure was built to protect the garden from the frequent night thefts which occurred in spite of severe penalties (fines, prison, exile). The Botanical Garden was steadily enriched with plants from all over the world, particularly from the countries that participated in trade with Venice. Consequently, Padua had a leading role in the introduction and study of many exotic plants, and a herbarium, a library and many laboratories were gradually added to its Botanical Garden.
At present, the Botanical Garden allows for intensive didactic activity as well as important research to be conducted on its grounds. It also cares for the preservation of many rare species. In 1997, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
