BOTANICAL GARDEN
In Rome, you know, we like to do great things, wanting a botanical garden, we were not content with a poor one, no sir, come and see our garden: an extension of 12 hectares!
Like all things in Rome the Garden has a long history.
At the time of the empire here were the gardens of Geta, the unfortunate son of Septimius Severus. These gardens flourished enjoying the fertility of the soil and the proximity of the aqueduct of Trajan.
Years pass and centuries pass, under Pope Boniface VIII, around 1300, came the progenitor of the Botanical Garden, named Simpliciarius Pontificius Vaticanus, or Garden of the simple expression with which it was indicated the place where monks cultivated medicinal plants. As we know Boniface VIII instituted the University of Rome "La Sapienza" (=wisdom), then the historical cycle is complete now that the Botanical Garden is taken care by the Department of Environmental Biology of "La Sapienza".
The Popes showed a focus on the medicinal properties of plants, Leone X in 1514 established at the University "La Sapienza", the first chair for the teaching of medicinal plants. The holders of the chair were also responsible for the Vatican Botanical Garden. That this was also a botanical garden they did not know, as long as Giovanni Faber, director of the garden from 1601 to 1621, called botanical the matter.
Years pass and Cardinal Neri Corsini, purchased the building that became the Palazzo Corsini, entrusting the redesign to the famous architect Ferdinando Fuga.
At that time the land, where today we find the Botanical Garden, was the garden of the Palazzo Corsini, which today we see the grand staircase with the fountain by the eleven jets, which also is due to Ferdinando Fuga.
The garden stretched up to the summit of the Janiculum.
Today the Corsini gardens have been divided: 12 hectares have gone to “La Sapienza”, 4 to the town of Rome, near the monument to Garibaldi. a fence dividing the two properties, but you can see Garibaldi from the Botanical Gardens.
As we say below the Garden, with its three thousand species, reserves for pleasant surprises, but the biggest surprise is that such a vast area in central Rome, it is saved from land speculation.
Miracles of Botany!
As we to said the visit is pleasant, for the views and the richness of the collections, on display would require at least half a day.
Walking through the 12 hectares we could lose, but at the entrance you will be provided in the guide that we report. In our version we have highlighted in red the points at which we have paid particular attention. Among these we have focused in particular on the Serra Corsini, with its exceptional collection of succulent plants. We also invite you to visit the Giardino dei Semplici, because in our time we are rediscovering the value of food as drug and why not of medicinal plants.
For brevity we have neglected other equally interesting points, but we are sure that those who will visit the Botanical Garden will want to see the Tropical Greenhouse, the Japanese Garden, and all the interesting things offered by the Department of Environmental Biology of "Wisdom".
Enjoy your visit!
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