Gardens of Minerva (Giardino della Minerva) description and photos - Italy: Salerno (Topic)

Gardens of Minerva (Giardino della Minerva) description and photos - Italy: Salerno. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Giardino della Minerva.

Photo and description

Gardens of Minerva is perhaps the oldest botanical garden in Europe. It was founded at the beginning of the 14th century in the city of Salerno by Dr. Matteo Selvatiko, who connected the garden with the famous medical school of Scuola Medica Salernitana. In those years, it was located just outside the walls of the Castello di Areca castle along a green street that ran from the lower part of the city to the castle itself. Selvatiko established a separate garden with medicinal plants on the territory of the garden, which became the predecessor of all botanical gardens in Europe. It was in it that the teacher of the prestigious Scuola Medica conducted his experiments, was engaged in the classification of plants and studied predatory plants.

The Gardens of Minerva, still located in the old center of Salerno, acquired their present appearance in the 18th century after the restoration of the territory. And the medieval medicinal garden of Selvatico is two meters below the level of the current pavement. The entire garden area is divided into terraces with a hydraulic system of fountains, canals and fish ponds on each level. The very name of the garden comes from the name of the fountain depicting the goddess Minerva. Another noteworthy fountain in the shape of a shell is located on the highest terrace with panoramic views.

A special microclimate has formed on the territory of the garden with a favorable amount of daylight hours, which allows you to grow a variety of plant species, including moisture and heat-loving ones. Recently, decorative and rare species of plants have been planted here - ashwagandha, dashin, several types of roses, etc. Also here they are trying to reproduce the very medicinal plants, which are mentioned in the most prominent scientific works of the Scuola Medic Salernitana. And in the lower part of the garden, several greenhouses were built for the cultivation of introduced species, for example, the legendary mandrake.

A long staircase with square columns at the base, entwined with climbing plants, connects several levels of the garden terraces - from the lower to the high belvedere, from which a wonderful view of the Salernitansky Bay opens. From there you can also admire the panoramic view from Punta Licosa to Punta Campanella.

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Topic: Gardens of Minerva (Giardino della Minerva) description and photos - Italy: Salerno.