Minerva Garden

Salerno's green heart between history, medicine and educational activities

The marvellous Minerva's Garden is a must-see for anyone visiting the city of Salerno. This large botanical garden in the historic centre has a long history that dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was used for teaching purposes by the students of the Scuola Medica Salernitana, the oldest medical university in the world. 

Today, after lengthy restoration work that began in 2000, Salerno can boast one of the most elegant and evocative botanical gardens in the world, in stairways and terraces where the many plants and botanical species coexist with the ancient architectural elements that have re-emerged from the excavations.

The Minerva Garden is also the venue for exhibitions and events aimed at spreading and sharing the knowledge of the Medical School. In addition to guided tours, it is possible to participate in botany workshops such as one on recycling food waste, one dedicated to the world of seeds and one focusing on Matteo Silvatico's ancient method of studying plants, which revolutionised the history of botany.