The Garden
About
A visit to the Botanic Garden is like traveling around the world without leaving the city. The plant collections which occupy every corner of the Garden take us on a journey to distinct latitudes and regions of the world, thus transforming the Garden into a living museum.
Located in the heart of the city of Coimbra since 1772, the Botanic Garden covers a total area of 12 ha (close to 30 acres).
The role of botanical gardens has undergone transformations over the centuries, and the Botanic Garden of the University of Coimbra is also an example of this. The creation of the Botanic Garden was rooted on the taxonomic collections used by the University for the study and documentation of plants, a fact that is decisive for the Garden’s scientific and historical value. Today it is recognized as a space open to all, and a privileged place to host projects from a variety of disciplines, such as environmental education, formal and informal education, research, social intervention and even cultural and artistic. This multidisciplinary approach is essential to strengthen the Botanic Garden’s connection to the community.
The creation of the Garden was formally assigned in 1772 in the new University Statutes as a vital part of a new University model. The first space of the Garden is currently its heart – the Central Square – and is both a reflection of the various changes undergone and a reminder of this reforming path. The first plants arrived here in 1774, coming by sea from the Ajuda Royal Botanic Garden, in Lisbon, and accompanied by João Luiz Rodrigues Villar, who would become the first gardener of the then called ‘Horto Botânico’. They were received by the director Domenico Vandelli, who had been appointed professor of Natural History and Chemistry at the University of Coimbra by the Marquis of Pombal. Domenico Vandelli was, at the time, organizing the earthworks of the land offered by the Benedictines. It was here that the plants from Lisbon were installed, so that practical classes could begin and to attend the Marquis of Pombal’s desire to establish a Garden where “all kinds of plants could be cultivated’.
National and International Memberships
