The Botany Section of the Natural History Museum of Florence, the Florence Herbarium and the Giardino dei Semplici bring together centuries of botanical study, scientific research and cultural heritage. The Botany Section is in central Florence, at Via Giorgio La Pira, 4, 50121 Florence, Italy, and is well served by public transport. Further details are available from the SMA Unifi, Visit Tuscany and The Florentine.
History
Florence’s botanical tradition took shape during the Renaissance under Cosimo I de’ Medici, who established the Giardino dei Semplici in 1545. The medicinal garden provided living specimens for the study of botany and medicine. Its first director, Luca Ghini, pioneered the herbarium technique of pressing and mounting plants, which became foundational to botanical research.
Florence became home to two of the world’s oldest herbaria: Abbot Merini’s, dating to the 1540s, and Andrea Cesalpino’s, from around 1563. In 1842, Filippo Parlatore founded the Herbarium Centrale Italicum to unite Italian botanical collections and expand Florence’s holdings. Philip Barker Webb contributed around 250,000 specimens and a comprehensive botanical library.
La Specola was founded in 1771 as the Imperial-Royal Museum of Physics and Natural History and became the principal home of Florence’s botanical collections. In 1878, the growing collections moved to larger premises next to the Giardino dei Semplici. The Botany Section joined the University of Florence’s Natural History Museum system in 1990, supporting the preservation and modernization of its collections and their integration with research and educational initiatives.
What to see
Botany Section and Florence Herbarium
The collections include approximately five million plant specimens, among them numerous type specimens that are important for species identification. The Florence Herbarium holds over 4 million seed-plant specimens and more than 600,000 cryptogamic specimens, including mosses, lichens, fungi and algae (JSTOR Plants; SMA Unifi).
Highlights include the early Merini and Cesalpino herbaria, the Herbarium Centrale Italicum, and the Erbario Webb, which includes specimens collected by Darwin. The Herbarium is a reference center for taxonomy, conservation and historical research, with type specimens and distinctive historical collections such as the Cesalpino and Micheli-Targioni herbaria (Herbarium World; Wikipedia).
The wider collections cover flora from the Mediterranean, Africa, Asia and beyond. Other notable objects include wax botanical models made between 1771 and 1893 for scientific education, still-life paintings by Bartolomeo Bimbi, Ginori porcelain and plaster casts from the Boboli Gardens. The wax models, paintings and rare manuscripts also reflect Florence’s connections between science and artistic heritage (The Florentine).
Giardino dei Semplici
Founded by Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1545, the Giardino dei Semplici is the third oldest botanical garden in Europe. Initially used to grow medicinal plants for university studies, it is now a center for plant conservation and education (visittuscany.com; wikipedia.org).
The garden covers 2.3 hectares and retains its Renaissance character. It features approximately 6,000 specimens across 4,500 species, including ancient trees, extensive greenhouses, medicinal plants and rare botanical collections (museumsinflorence.com; theflorentine.net). Visitors can explore walking paths, thematic plantings, greenhouses and educational signage. The garden preserves rare and endangered species and supports scientific research and international collaborations (bgci.org).
Practical visiting information
Botany Section and museum
- Hours The Botany Section is open by appointment only (Nature.com). Other museum sections may have regular hours; check the official website.
- Tickets Standard admission is €10; reduced admission is €5 for eligible groups. Children under 6, certain students and staff, guides, and people with disabilities enter free. Valid documentation is required (SMA Unifi).
- Appointments Booking is mandatory for the Botany Section. Contact the museum in advance by email at [email protected] or phone at +39 055 2756209.
- Accessibility The building is historic, and some areas may be less accessible. Contact the museum about specific needs.
- Location Via Giorgio La Pira, 4, 50121 Florence, Italy (SMA Unifi).
Florence Herbarium
The Herbarium is listed at Via La Pira, 4, Florence. Its hours are mornings except Wednesdays and all day Saturday; confirm details on the official website. Standard fees apply, with discounts for students and groups. Guided tours are available by booking. Some accommodations are available for accessibility; contact the Herbarium in advance. Photography is allowed in certain areas, without flash or tripods. Nearby attractions include Museo La Specola and Palazzo Pitti.
Giardino dei Semplici
- Hours Daily except Mondays, 10:00 AM–7:00 PM; closed on select holidays (visitflorence.com).
- Tickets Standard admission is €6, with discounts for children, students and seniors. Admission is included in the Firenzecard circuit (theflorentine.net).
- Accessibility Most paths are accessible, though some surfaces are uneven.
- Visit length Allow 1–2 hours for a thorough visit. Photography is permitted for personal use.
- Educational resources Regular guided tours, workshops and digital resources are managed by the University of Florence (sma.unifi.it).
Tips
- Contact the museum in advance to arrange a Botany Section appointment and discuss accessibility needs.
- Early visits are quieter.
- Museum photography is allowed for personal use without flash or tripods; check guidelines with staff.
- Look for special events, workshops and seasonal exhibitions.
- Online museum galleries feature wax models and historic herbaria. Interactive maps and virtual tours may also be available on the official website.
- Digital resources such as the Audiala app can also be used to enhance a visit (SMA Unifi; Visit Tuscany).
Nearby places
The Giardino dei Semplici is adjacent to the Botany Section. Other nearby places to combine with a visit include the Museum of Geology and Paleontology, Florence Museum of Archaeology and San Marco Museum.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What are the Botany Section’s visiting hours?
A: Visits are by appointment only. Contact the museum directly to schedule.
Q: How much are tickets?
A: Museum admission is €10, with reduced admission at €5; some categories enter free. The Giardino dei Semplici costs €6, with discounts for children, students and seniors. See the official site for details.
Q: Is the museum accessible for people with disabilities?
A: Some areas are accessible. Contact the museum for specific support.
Q: Are guided tours available?
A: Yes, by arrangement. Contact educational services at [email protected].
Q: Can I take photos?
A: Yes, for personal use, without flash or tripods; confirm with staff.
