Orto Botanico Di Padova

Padua, Italy

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The Orto Botanico di Padova, located in Padua, Italy, is recognized as the world's oldest academic botanical garden still in its original location, founded in 1545 by the Venetian Republic for the University of Padua's medical school to study medicinal plants.

The garden was designed with a symbolic circular layout representing the world, containing a square divided into four sections, enclosed by a circular wall built to protect valuable plants. Over the centuries, it has retained its Renaissance geometric design while adding elements like monumental gates, fountains, sundials, greenhouses, and a botanical theatre.

It houses a wide collection of plants used for scientific research, teaching, and medicinal purposes, with greenhouses that simulate various global biomes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, reflecting its historical, scientific, and cultural significance in the development of botanical science.