The Garden of
Minerva is situated in the heart of Salerno city center, close to the Fusandola
stream and the ancient medieval walls. In this area of extraordinary cultural value and outstanding natural
beauty, visitors can discover the
first example of a botanical garden, created in the 14th century by
Matteo Silvatico, a prominent physician of the famous Salerno Medical School,
the oldest university of medicine in the Western world.
Matteo Silvatico realized the ancient plant
classification system working in the ancient “viridarium” (a Roman ornamental garden), an educational area where
he cultivated plants used to produce the active ingredients employed for
therapeutic purposes, providing their
names and characteristics in the largest terrace in the garden. In the Garden of
Minerva students of the
School of Medicine were taught to recognize the plants used to treat diseases
according to the theory of the four humours. In this theory, humours existed as
liquids within the body and were identified as blood, phlegm, black bile and
yellow bile. These were in turn associated with the fundamental elements of
air, water, earth and fire. A good balance between the four humours was
essential to retain a healthy body and mind, as imbalance could result in
disease.
The garden has been also enriched by Matteo Silvatico with
rare and exotic species, which has been maintained over the centuries thanks to
the exposure to the sun and the lack of northerly winds.
The elements of the garden which date back to the 700s are really
enchanting: a fountain on a terrace and a long terraced stairway bordered by
stucco pillars leading to a belvedere, the whole covered by a pergola.
In the Tea Room of the garden, visitors can also taste herbal teas,
infusions and biscuits.
The amazing view of
the sea and the old town makes even more pleasant the visit to the Garden of
Minerva, a place where time seems to stand still and where nature reigns
supreme!
Visit Salerno with Accademia
Italiana and learn more about its fascinating history!
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