The Orto Botanico dell’Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, also known as the Orto Botanico di Roma, is a botanical garden operated by the Sapienza University of Rome and located at Largo Cristina di Svezia 24, Rome, Italy. It is open every day including Sundays; an admission fee is charged.
In 1514, Pope Leo X established the first chair for teaching medicinal plants. When the residence of the popes moved to the Quirinale, the Vatican Botanical Gardens were completely abandoned. It was Pope Alexander VII Chigi (1655-1667) who decided to create the new university garden on the Gianicolo Hill. In 1883, after numerous transfers, the Botanical Garden found its definitive location at Villa Corsini alla Lungara, acquired by the Italian State from Tommaso Corsini for the construction of the Accademia dei Lincei and the botanical garden.
