Giarino dei Semplici

Giarino dei Semplici and its collection

Founded in 1545 by Cosimo I de' Medici and designed by Niccolò Pericoli, an Italian Mannerist artist, the Giarino dei Semplici is the third oldest botanical garden in Europe. Originally, only medicinal plants were grown here, but the garden was enlargened in the 18th century (during the reign of Cosimo III) and now it contains about 9,000 various plant species. Currently, the garden is managed by the University of Florence.