Notizie del pubblico giardino de' semplici di Padova compilate intorno l'anno 1771

Notizie del pubblico giardino de' semplici di Padova compilate intorno l'anno 1771 by Giovanni Marsili presents a vivid account of the Orto Botanico di Padova’s origins and enduring influence, written by a longtime professor and prefect of the garden. Blending meticulous archival detail with a clear historical narrative, Marsili traces the garden’s foundation to 1545, describing the decree that established it, Sebastiano Foscarini’s acquisition of land from the monks of Santa Giustina, and the formal lease and annual payments that secured the site. Readers encounter portraits of early custodians — Luigi Anguillara’s appointment in 1546 and Pierantonio Michiel’s later stewardship — and the garden’s role as a pioneering model that inspired botanical collections in Pisa, Florence, Bologna, and Leiden. Themes of scientific practice, university reform, and the institutionalization of plant study in early modern Europe run throughout this concise historical botanical study. Meticulous yet accessible, Marsili’s work situates the Padua garden within the broader evolution of the history of botany. This audiobook is ideal for historians of science, botanists, garden historians, and curious listeners who want a richly documented portrait of one of Europe’s earliest botanical gardens.