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Which Italian cities founded the first two botanical gardens in Europe?
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Botanical garden
Botanical gardens in Maymyo, Myanmar.
The first two botanical gardens in Europe were established in the Italian cities of Pisa and Padua.12
- Pisa: The botanical garden was established in 1543.12
- Padua: The botanical garden was founded in 1545.31
While the garden in Pisa was established slightly earlier, it changed locations twice after its opening. Consequently, the botanical garden in Padua is recognized as the oldest in Europe that remains in its original location. These early institutions were typically associated with university medical schools, serving as "physic gardens" for the training of students and the cultivation of medicinal plants.431