Orto Botanico di Padova, Padua

Lovely botanical garden in the heart of Padua. Given its historical importance providing research for medicine and showcasing a wide range of plant life, this is a worthwhile stop if you’re in the city. Some comments mention that it’s rather poorly maintained and doesn’t have a wide depth of offerings, but I would disagree. This is one of the oldest botanical gardens and the current footprint was probably limited and was probably considered quite large for its time. In that sense, it does feel like a throwback. Yes, it’s not super polished but the specimens we saw were all really beautiful and included cacti, mosses, aquatic plants, carnivorous plants. During the visit, we saw staff maintaining the grounds and taking care of the debris from the larger trees. Garden is very walkable and is connected though a few walkways to another building which was holding some conventions when I visited. Looked educational and was attended by university students. It’s also fun to be able to get up close to a cluster of pitcher plants and see them digesting insects is not something you get to do everyday. After all this time, still a great place for observing, learning and inspiration.

Just mind blowing! A must to visit in Padova. It makes you think that we are not who addomesticated the planet but it's otherwise, because we are completely dependent from it. While I was there I totally forget that around that place there is a city and chaos.