The Orto Botanico, or Botanical Garden, in Palermo is a truly magical place and an idyllic space of calm and beauty to go and relax while exploring the city. If you have found a vacation rental in Sicily and are heading to Palermo to sightsee, taking in the incredible Arab-Norman architectural gems, beautiful churches stuffed with elaborate works of art, and excellent beaches, then you might welcome the lush gardens as a peaceful place to escape the heat and bright light of the sun in Sicily. For those exploring Palermo, the Botanical Garden really is a must-see attraction, located a few blocks from the seafront, bordering the Kalsa district, in the Villa Giulia park.
Created to study medical and agricultural plant species, the Botanical Garden is part of the University of Palermo, an important Italian academic institution, and a centre of scientific research that is, today, deeply involved in the study and conservation of the environment. Amongst the oldest modern centres of botanical studies in the globe, it was opened in 1795, and remains a vibrant and active centre of research to this day, as well as a wonderful tourist attraction. Neo-Classical structures based on designs by Trombetta, Marabitti and the famous Venanzio Marvuglia and sculptures like the two sphinxes flanking the steps leading to the main building by sculptor Vitale Tucciom, all add to the character of the garden and showcase its age and heritage.
Created to study medical and agricultural plant species, the Botanical Garden is part of the University of Palermo, an important Italian academic institution, and a centre of scientific research that is, today, deeply involved in the study and conservation of the environment. Amongst the oldest modern centres of botanical studies in the globe, it was opened in 1795, and remains a vibrant and active centre of research to this day, as well as a wonderful tourist attraction. Neo-Classical structures based on designs by Trombetta, Marabitti and the famous Venanzio Marvuglia and sculptures like the two sphinxes flanking the steps leading to the main building by sculptor Vitale Tucciom, all add to the character of the garden and showcase its age and heritage.
Come discover the open-air museum that the garden is, stuffed with living collections of plants, lush greenery, fascinating flowers, and lots of trees with green parrots relaxing among them. It is home to hundreds of tropical and semi-tropical plants from all over the world, many of which were introduced into Europe by the University of Palermo. Among them you will discover Burmese bamboo, coffee plants, papaya, mandarins, and loquats, cotton, sugar cane, a multi-tiered pond called the Aquarium with several species of lotus and water lily, cacti, succulents, palms, and much more besides. It'll feel like a tropical holiday...in Italy.
Orto Botanico
Via Lincoln, 2 Palermo
Tickets:
Adult: €6.00
Reduced (for groups of 10 or more): € 4.00
Children aged 10 to 16: €3.00
Children under 10 & Adults over 65: €2.00
Free for children under 4 years of age
Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday 9am to 5pm (or up to 8pm, depending on the time of the year)
Closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Orto Botanico
Via Lincoln, 2 Palermo
Tickets:
Adult: €6.00
Reduced (for groups of 10 or more): € 4.00
Children aged 10 to 16: €3.00
Children under 10 & Adults over 65: €2.00
Free for children under 4 years of age
Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday 9am to 5pm (or up to 8pm, depending on the time of the year)
Closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Photo credits
Picture 1: tato grasso / CC BY-SA 2.5;
Picture 2: tato grasso / CC BY-SA 2.5
Picture 1: tato grasso / CC BY-SA 2.5;
Picture 2: tato grasso / CC BY-SA 2.5