Orto Botanico dell'Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, University botanical garden and natural history museum in Modena, Italy
The Orto Botanico dell'Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia is a botanical garden and natural history museum that covers roughly one hectare in the center of the city. Multiple greenhouses run through the grounds, housing more than 1,400 plant species and an extensive collection of preserved specimens for study.
Duke Francesco III d'Este founded this botanical garden in 1758 as a collection of medicinal plants for research and treatment. The site became formally integrated into the university in 1772 and developed its scientific structure.
The garden is used today as a teaching space where the historic Parterre-School section displays roughly 700 European plant species arranged in radial flowerbeds around a central water feature. This layout reflects how plants were once organized for learning and study.
The garden opens on weekdays during warm months with free admission, though greenhouse access requires prior arrangement. Visit in spring and summer when most plants are in bloom and the pathways are easiest to navigate.
The Succulent Plant Greenhouse was established in the 1980s with specialized collections housed in a separate building alongside dedicated areas for carnivorous plants and orchids. This focus on specialized collections makes the garden popular with plant enthusiasts.
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