Orto Botanico

Within the bustling heart of Palermo lies a hidden oasis, the Orto Botanico. This isn’t just any garden. It’s a living museum, a testament to centuries of botanical passion and scientific discovery. The Orto Botanico’s story begins in 1779. The Accademia dei Regi Studi established a chair of “Botany and medicinal properties”. They needed a place to grow medicinal plants for both education and public health. Their first plot, near Porta Carini, quickly proved too small. In 1786, they relocated the Orto Botanico to its current location, a former orchard of Villa Giulia. The garden’s neoclassical buildings, including the Gymnasium, Tepidarium, and Calidarium, were designed by Léon Dufourny, and completed in 1789. The garden officially opened in 1795. Over the years, the Orto Botanico expanded, adding features like the Aquarium in 1798 and the Serra Maria Carolina (glasshouse) in 1823. Today, it spans about 30 acres. The Orto Botanico houses a remarkable collection of over 12,000 plant species. The garden played a crucial role in introducing species to the Mediterranean, such as the mandarin and loquat. Its giant Ficus macrophylla, brought from Norfolk Island in 1845, is one of the largest trees in Europe, a sprawling marvel of aerial roots and interwoven branches. The Orto Botanico also boasts a rich variety of aquatic plants in its Aquarium, including various Nymphaea species. You’ll also find thriving Egyptian papyrus and bamboo. Explore the Giardino a succulente with its diverse Aloe species and other arid-region plants. The Cycadetum features a Cycas revoluta donated by Queen Maria Carolina in 1793, among the first of its kind in Europe. The palm area boasts over 80 species, from the Sicilian Chamaerops humilis to exotic varieties. The Winter Garden houses warm-climate species, including the coffee plant, papaya, and cinnamon. Even a colony of escaped parrots, the Psittacula krameri, has made the Orto Botanico their home, adding an unexpected layer of life to this vibrant sanctuary. The Orto Botanico is more than just a collection of plants. It’s a journey through botanical history, a celebration of biodiversity, and a tranquil escape in the heart of Palermo.