A villa on the Amalfi Coast means access to endless beautiful seaside towns, pretty beaches, and charming spots with incredible views over the coast. It is an innately scenic part of Italy and the world and if you're fond of wonderful panoramas and visiting impossibly picturesque attractions then it is a great option for your next holiday in Italy. Among all of the lovely things to see and places to visit in the region, however, one of the most magical of all has to be the Giardino della Minerva in the town of Salerno. Browse our vacation rentals on the Amalfi Coast and get planning your trip today to take in this gorgeous garden and the infinite list of other beautiful attractions in the area.
The Giardino della Minerva (or Minerva's Garden) is a rather special botanical garden located on a high terrace that boasts sweeping views over the city of Salerno and out over the coast. Found in the medieval core of the city, in an area that was once known as the Plaium Montis, the garden traces its roots all the way back to the 12th century and is a very special gem that is now open to the public to be enjoyed for its educational, aesthetic and therapeutic qualities.
The Giardino della Minerva (or Minerva's Garden) is a rather special botanical garden located on a high terrace that boasts sweeping views over the city of Salerno and out over the coast. Found in the medieval core of the city, in an area that was once known as the Plaium Montis, the garden traces its roots all the way back to the 12th century and is a very special gem that is now open to the public to be enjoyed for its educational, aesthetic and therapeutic qualities.
Part of land once owned by the Silvatico family, the Giardino della Minerva was originally created by a descendent of the family, Matteo Sivatico, who was a distinguished physician of the Salernitan School of Medicine and a great expert of medical plants and herbs. Under his direction, in the 13th and 14th centuries, the garden was planted with medicinal flora used in therapeutic practices and used it as a space to teach his students about the plants and their use. The Giardino della Minerva then ultimately became an important forerunner to many of the botanical gardens that would later appear all over Europe. In recent years, an archaeological dig even unearthed what remains of this original medieval garden, 2m below the ground. Changes in the appearance and purpose of the garden took place gradually throughout the following centuries but it began to look something like the modern iteration by the middle of the 17th century.
The last private owner of the series of terraces that makes up the garden was Professor Giovanni Capasso, who donated the entirety of the land to the Asilo di Mendicità charitable institution after WWII. Much later, in 1991, it was decided to use this unique property to create a botanical garden that would honour the work and memory of Silvatico and his medicinal garden, as well as local botanical heritage. Funded and developed by the Municipal Council, with additional funds provided by the European Union, work was begun in 2000. Today, the garden is a mixture of elements introduced in the 17th and 18th centuries and modern interventions. Not quite a traditional botanical garden, the Giardino della Minerva follows specific themes in different areas, with the largest dedicated to Salerno's botanical tradition and the ancient plant classification system. Over 300 different plant species are to be found throughout the garden, including some rare species that were used for medicines in the Middle Ages, as well as various water features (also used to distribute water around the spaces) including fountains and ponds, avenues, flower beds, viewing points to take in the exceptional panorama over Salerno, a library, and a tea room. One of the key features in the Giardino della Minerva is the striking and elegant long staircase, covered over by a pergola, that connects and frames the various levels of the garden and which is built onto the ancient walls of the city.
The last private owner of the series of terraces that makes up the garden was Professor Giovanni Capasso, who donated the entirety of the land to the Asilo di Mendicità charitable institution after WWII. Much later, in 1991, it was decided to use this unique property to create a botanical garden that would honour the work and memory of Silvatico and his medicinal garden, as well as local botanical heritage. Funded and developed by the Municipal Council, with additional funds provided by the European Union, work was begun in 2000. Today, the garden is a mixture of elements introduced in the 17th and 18th centuries and modern interventions. Not quite a traditional botanical garden, the Giardino della Minerva follows specific themes in different areas, with the largest dedicated to Salerno's botanical tradition and the ancient plant classification system. Over 300 different plant species are to be found throughout the garden, including some rare species that were used for medicines in the Middle Ages, as well as various water features (also used to distribute water around the spaces) including fountains and ponds, avenues, flower beds, viewing points to take in the exceptional panorama over Salerno, a library, and a tea room. One of the key features in the Giardino della Minerva is the striking and elegant long staircase, covered over by a pergola, that connects and frames the various levels of the garden and which is built onto the ancient walls of the city.
Visitors to the Giardino della Minerva will be struck by the tranquility of the space, carefully maintained by visiting guidelines, and those astonishing views over the city and the Amalfi Coast. If you are a lover of gardens and you have found a villa on the Amalfi Coast, it is certainly a must-see attraction but anyone on holiday in this part of Italy is likely to enjoy this peaceful and beautiful gem. While exploring the garden, be also sure to set aside time to visit the stunning tea rooms where you can enjoy delicious local products and wonderful herbal teas while sitting out on the terrace and being immersed in such gorgeous surroundings. It's a magical experience!
Giardino della Minerva
Vicolo Ferrante Sanseverino, n° 1, 84121 Salerno SA, Italy
info@giardinodellaminerva.it
+39 089 252423
Giardino della Minerva
Vicolo Ferrante Sanseverino, n° 1, 84121 Salerno SA, Italy
info@giardinodellaminerva.it
+39 089 252423