Botanical gardens in Valencia

Know as officially The Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia (Valencian: Jardí Botànic de la Universitat de València), this is one of the city’s highlights for locals and tourists alike.

Situated snugly on Calle Quart in El Botànic neighbourhood of Valencia, it is a four-hectare-sized plot surrounded by old apartments on two sides and the majestic Valencia Jesuit Church (Iglesia Jesuitas Valencia) on the other.

It came to its current site only in 1802, having had numerous homes throughout the city. It was effectively abandoned from 1987 to 2000, when it was fully restored.

The world-renowned gardens, the traditonal of which dates back to the 16th century, are part of the University of Valencia and are a living museum. Intially is was used as a physics garden for teaching medicine.

The aim is to “…let people connect with the plant world by fostering its study, teaching, dissemination and conservation, as well as its sustainable use.”

Plants come from the world over and the garden team carry out research on plant diversity, conservation of rare, endemic or endangered species of Mediterranean flora and the conservation of natural habitats.