When and where were the earliest botanical gardens founded?

While the roots of botanical gardens as institutions can be traced back to ancient China and various Mediterranean regions—where they functioned as centers for raising fruit trees, vegetables, and medicinal herbs—the formal establishment of the botanical garden as a scientific institution occurred in 16th-century Europe.1

The earliest documented botanical gardens were founded in Italy:
* Pisa: Established in 1543.12
* Padua: Established in 1545.12

These early institutions were primarily associated with university medical schools. Known as "physic gardens," they were designed to train students and cultivate plants for the production of medicines. By the end of the 16th century, five such gardens existed in Europe, eventually evolving from their medicinal origins into centers for plant culture, scientific research, and public education.12