Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra, Botanical garden in Sé Nova district, Coimbra, Portugal
The Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra is a plant collection containing tropical plants, medicinal herbs, Japanese garden sections, and extensive tree and flower displays spread across multiple zones. The site is organized into distinct areas that visitors can explore in sequence, each showcasing different plant types and growing environments.
The garden was founded in 1772 by the Marquis of Pombal after an earlier attempt in 1731 had failed. Its creation was connected to Pombal's broader effort to advance natural sciences in Portugal during that period.
The garden serves as a living classroom where students and visitors walk among the plants to learn about botanical science and nature. People regularly gather in different sections to study plants or simply observe the collections, making it an active place of learning and discovery.
The garden is located at Calçada Martim de Freitas and invites visitors to explore its different sections at their own pace. Information spaces and guided tours are available to help visitors learn more about the plant collections.
The garden holds Cinchona seeds from Java's Buitenzorg Garden, which played a key role in the history of malaria treatment. These seeds produced plants whose bark yielded natural quinine, the only effective malaria remedy available at that time.
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