Orto e Museo Botanico
Museum | Pisa | Tuscany | Italy
The "Orto e Museo Botanico" in Pisa is a significant botanical museum and garden, founded in 1543 by Luca Ghini, a renowned botanist, and is considered the oldest botanical garden of a university. The garden was originally established by the Arno River and was moved to its current location in 1591. It covers about two hectares and houses a variety of plants from around the world, including African and American desert plants, Mediterranean herbs, and plants from Tuscan wetlands.
The Botanical Museum is a significant part of the collection and was founded in 1591 under the patronage of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinando I de' Medici. It preserves numerous historical objects, including portraits of botanists from the 17th century, as well as a collection of botanical models made of wax and plaster, which were used as elaborate teaching aids. The museum contains many valuable collections, including plant samples cultivated in vitro, a xylotheque, didactic models, botanical instruments, and paleobotanical collections.
A special attraction is the digital stations that allow visitors to virtually explore the historical herbarium of the Botanical Garden. This collection of plant samples is stored in the original building of the garden and is mainly available to researchers. The museum and garden provide an excellent opportunity to discover the world of plant sciences and learn how botany has shaped our understanding of nature over the centuries.
