Orto Botanico (Botanical Garden), Pisa (must see)

The Botanical Garden of Pisa offers a quieter side of the city, just a short distance from its famous monuments. Founded in 1544 as part of the University of Pisa, it is considered the oldest university botanical garden in Europe and one of the earliest scientific gardens in the world. Originally created for the study of medicinal plants, the garden continues to reflect centuries of research, education, and curiosity about the natural world.

As you walk through the grounds, the garden unfolds through a series of carefully organized sections connected by shaded paths. Open planting areas alternate with ponds, lawns, and botanical collections arranged according to plant families. The water gardens are among the most relaxing areas to explore, where pools and fountains are surrounded by aquatic plants, including rare species that have disappeared from their natural habitats. The calm atmosphere offers a noticeable contrast to Pisa’s busy monumental areas nearby.

One of the most distinctive buildings within the garden is the former Botanical Institute, completed in the late 16th century and later enhanced with its characteristic seashell decoration added in the mid-18th century. Nearby greenhouses display tropical and exotic plants that would not normally grow in the Tuscan climate.

Inside the Botanical Museum, visitors can discover portraits of early botanists, scientific instruments, and historical collections connected to the development of botanical science. The extensive herbarium, containing hundreds of thousands of preserved plant specimens, remains an important scientific archive, while visitors can explore its collections through multimedia exhibits within the museum.

Today, the Botanical Garden remains both an active research center and a peaceful place to wander, offering visitors a different perspective on Pisa — one shaped not only by art and architecture, but also by science, discovery, and the long tradition of studying nature.