Discover Orto Botanico di Roma

In the heart of the city, between Via della Lungara and the Janiculum, the Orto Botanico is, in Turismo Roma's words, a place to walk far from the chaos among an extraordinary variety of the plant world.

It sits in a nobleman's park over a Roman bath. It is situated in the park of Villa Corsini, once the residence of Christina of Sweden, and on part of the archaeological area called the Horti Getae, anciently made up of the baths of Septimius Severus. It is one of the largest in Italy.

Its lineage runs back to a papal chair of medicine. In 1514 Pope Leo X instituted the first chair for the teaching of medicinal plants; when the papal residence moved to the Quirinal the Vatican botanical garden was completely abandoned, and it was Pope Alexander VII Chigi (1655-1667) who decided to create the new university garden on the Janiculum. In 1883, after numerous transfers, the Orto Botanico found its definitive location at Villa Corsini alla Lungara, bought by the Italian State from Tommaso Corsini for the Accademia dei Lincei and the botanical garden.

Ferdinando Fuga's fountains are still running in it. Villa Corsini already had artistic value thanks to Fuga's restoration — he is also the author of the fountain of the eleven jets and that of the tritons, still to be seen in the garden. The first director, Pietro Romualdo Pirotta (1884-1928), created from nothing the whole naturalistic area, which at the start consisted only of the ancient wood against the Janiculum and two Cedars of Lebanon.

Today it runs to 12 hectares and over 2,500 species. It preserves naturalistic varieties from all over the world, with collections of interest not only for their scientific importance but above all for the manner of cultivation and the scenographic reconstruction of the environments.

And it belongs to a university. The Orto Botanico is an integral part of the Department of Plant Biology of the Sapienza University of Rome.

The garden publishes exactly what is and is not accessible, which is rare and worth quoting. All the avenues are accessible with a wheelchair and with pushchairs. Not accessible are the Tropical Greenhouse, part of the Garden of the Simples and of the Japanese Garden, the Serra Francese, the Serra Corsini, the Staircase of the Eleven Fountains, the Rose Garden and part of the bamboo area.

Turismo Roma adds the equipment. The Orto Botanico is equipped for disabled visitors with a dedicated path and two battery-powered vehicles that allow the hill routes to be used as well — which matters, because the site runs up the slopes of the Janiculum.

Entry is free for disabled visitors and a companion. That is published in the garden's own concession list, alongside free entry for children 0-5 and for Sapienza staff and students.

Getting there and parking. The address is Largo Cristina di Svezia 24; the garden names paid parking on Lungotevere della Farnesina and underground paid car parks at the Janiculum and via Giulia as the nearest.

Ask directly. The published contacts are info-ortobotanico@uniroma1.it and 06 49917116; Turismo Roma also points visitors to the city's Roma accessibile section.

Is it free on the first Sunday of the month? No. The garden states that the ticket is always payable.

How much does it cost? No base price is published on the pages consulted, so none is quoted here. A guided visit adds 4,00 EUR a person full, 2,00 EUR reduced.

What are the opening hours? Every day, Sundays and feast days included: 9:00-18:30 from April to October, 10:00-17:30 from November to March.

Do I need to book? No — it is enough to buy the ticket. Booking is required only for schools and groups.

Who gets a reduced ticket? Children 6-11, people aged 65 and over, and members of John Cabot University, Touring Club Italiano and Fondo Ambiente Italiano.

Who enters free? Children 0-5, disabled visitors and their companion, and Sapienza staff and students.

How big is it? 12 hectares on the slopes of the Janiculum, with over 2,500 species.

How long does a visit take? A guided visit lasts about 90 minutes; the garden can also be visited independently.

What are the highlights? The bamboo collection, among the richest in Europe; the IUCN red-listed palms; the Japanese Garden; the rose garden; the Garden of Aromas with Braille labels; the orchid house with about 400 species; and three historic greenhouses — Serra Corsini, Serra Francese and Serra Monumentale.

Can I bring a dog? No, except guide dogs for the blind.

Can I eat there? Yes, in respect of the garden's historic and museum character. The refreshment area with tables opens only at weekends; there is a vending machine inside.

Is there a cloakroom? No.

Can I take photographs? Yes, for personal use, without damaging or disturbing the flora and fauna.

Where is it? Largo Cristina di Svezia 24, between Via della Lungara and the Janiculum.