Orto Botanico di Roma historical timeline

A papal chair of medicinal plants in 1514, a Vatican garden abandoned, a new one on the Janiculum, and finally a cardinal's villa bought by the Italian State.

Chronology

1. Antiquity — the ground forms part of the archaeological area called the Horti Getae, anciently made up of the baths of Septimius Severus.
2. 1514 — Pope Leo X institutes the first chair for the teaching of medicinal plants.
3. Afterwards — when the papal residence moves to the Quirinal, the Vatican botanical garden is completely abandoned.
4. 1655–1667 — Pope Alexander VII Chigi decides to create the new university garden on the Janiculum hill.
5. 18th century — Ferdinando Fuga restores Villa Corsini, a prestigious residence of the Roman nobility, and makes the fountain of the eleven jets and that of the tritons.
6. 1883 — after numerous transfers, the Orto Botanico finds its definitive location at Villa Corsini alla Lungara, bought by the Italian State from Tommaso Corsini for the creation of the Accademia dei Lincei and the botanical garden.
7. 1884–1928 — the first director, Pietro Romualdo Pirotta, creates from nothing the whole naturalistic area, which at the beginning consisted only of the ancient wood against the Janiculum and two Cedars of Lebanon.
8. Today — 12 hectares, over 2,500 species, and an integral part of the Department of Plant Biology of the Sapienza University of Rome.

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