Botanical Garden and Herbarium, Bologna

The Botanical Garden and Herbarium of Bologna, located on Via Irnerio, represents a living museum of the plant world. Founded in 1568 by Ulisse Aldrovandi, it is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Europe, after those of Pisa, Padua and Florence. Initially intended for the study of medicinal plants, it has evolved alongside the botanical sciences.Throughout its history, the garden has moved several times before settling in its current location in 1803. The garden suffered neglect during the Second World War but was later restored in 1964. Today, it showcases a wide variety of plants, flowers, and trees from around the world, with a focus on both native and non-native species.The garden features several notable collections, including a large collection of succulent plants created in the first half of the 20th century. Greenhouses house tropical plants, epiphytic orchids, and carnivorous plants. The Herbarium contains approximately 130,000 dried plants, including collections from Ulisse Aldrovandi and Antonio Bertoloni. The Herbarium is primarily open for study and research purposes. The garden also reconstructs natural environments typical of the Bolognese plains and hills.