Orto Botanico “Giardino dei Semplici”

Why go

Founded by Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1545, the garden began with the medicinal plants known as “simples.” Its changing role—from botanical teaching to experimental agriculture—turns the grounds into a record of how plant study developed in Florence over time.

What to look for

• Look for the systematic layout inherited from the garden’s early botanical teaching role.
• Trace the shift from medicinal plants toward experimental agriculture.
• Compare the enclosed glasshouses with the open-air planting beds around them.

Useful to know

• Plan for an outdoor walk and check the seasonal timetable before setting out.
• Combine the garden with San Marco, a short nearby stop with a contrasting focus on art and religious history.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.