Curiosity and power of observation help to grasp how intriguing this section, housing several collections is. The largest collection, the Hortus sanitatis, contains medicinal species native to Italy and other plants from faraway countries.
The most unexpected collection is the agrobiodiversity one, composed of vegetables of the Lucchesia (Lucca area), representing important genetic heritage, the result of a long process of diversification, but also basic ingredients of the traditional cuisine.

The area changes its face with the seasons, in fact with at the first cold weather, many potted tropical species are moved to the greenhouses.

Map of botanical school

Photos
Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
Tree cotton (Gossypium arboreum)
Flat-leaved vanilla (Vanilla plantifolia)
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

LOOK OUT FOR … the labels identifying large and small plants through their common names. You will find many friends from everyday life such as cooking or personal care. You will be able to identify through leaves and stems coffee, vanilla, cotton, foxgloves and many others.

The name of the area, ‘Botanical School’, dates back to its original function which, according to the tradition of botanical gardens, housed collections that were living examples of the various systems of plant classification, the most famous of which is the Linnaeus’one.