The most beautiful Botanical Gardens in Emilia Romagna

Hidden among urban streets and buildings or immersed in unspoilt nature, botanical gardens are small green paradises and true refuges where you can admire rare and precious plant species.

Originally created as collections of medicinal herbs, botanical gardens are now places that must be protected and valued. They are ideal for a regenerating break or a short excursion to discover biodiversity.

Here are some of the most evocative botanical gardens in Emilia-Romagna — secret corners of nature waiting to be discovered.

Botanical Garden Caplez

The Caplez Botanical Garden is located in Cappelluzzo, an isolated and charming village in the province of Piacenza, at an altitude of 730 metres between Tassara and Stadera in the Val Tidone. The garden is easily accessible from both the Piacenza side (Nibbiano) and the Pavia side (Santa Maria della Versa).
Around 1,800 species and varieties from all over the world are cultivated here, in an area of 15,000 square metres.

Not to be missed: the two special collections of Spiraea and Philadelphus shrubs, and the careful conservation and propagation of endemic and endangered plants.

📍 Cappelluzzo, Piacenza
📞 +39 340 9953171
📧 info@giardinobotanicocaplez.com
💡 Instagram: giardino_botanico_caplez

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Botanical Garden of Parma

Created in 1630 at the behest of Duke Ranuccio I Farnese, the Botanical Garden of Parma is one of the oldest in the region and has been linked to the University’s Faculty of Medicine since its inception. Today it is part of the Department of Biosciences and retains its original size of 11,000 square metres, with over 2,000 plant species.

Not to be missed: the collections of carnivorous plants, succulents and violets, including the famous Parma violet.

📍 Via Farini 90, Parma
📞 +39 0521 903679
📧 ortobotanico@unipr.it
💡 Instagram: @ortobotanicoparma

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Alpine Botanical Garden Esperia

Unique in the Modena Apennines, the Esperia Alpine Botanical Garden, at an altitude of 1,500 metres, was created to study, protect and raise awareness of alpine flora from different continents. It is an enchanted corner within a beautiful beech forest characterised by rich undergrowth, where the colours, scents and medicinal properties of mountain plants tell the story of the resilience of plant life at high altitudes.

Not to be missed: mountain specimens from different mountain ranges and habitats, and rare or endangered species such as Geranium argenteum, Pinguicula vulgaris, Primula auricula, Gentiana lutea, Aster alpinus, as well as numerous species of orchids.

📍 Passo del Lupo, Sestola (MO)
📞 +39 340 4190785
📧 modena@cai.it
💡 Instagram: @giardino_esperia

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Botanical Garden of Bologna

Founded in 1568 on the initiative of Ulisse Aldrovandi, the Botanical Garden and Herbarium of the University of Bologna is one of the oldest in Italy. It covers approximately 2 hectares within the historic centre and is a veritable living museum, an integral part of the University Museum System. Inside, there are historic greenhouses, themed flower beds and an important herbarium with around 130,000 dried specimens.

Not to be missed: the tropical and exotic greenhouses, the collection of carnivorous plants and the section dedicated to medicinal and aromatic plants.

📍 Via Irnerio 42, Bologna
📞 +39 051 2091309
📧 sma.ortoerbario@unibo.it
💡 Instagram: @museiunibo

Botanical Garden and Herbarium of Ferrara

Established in 1771 and currently located in the garden of Palazzo Turchi-Di Bagno, the Botanical Garden and Herbarium of Ferrara belongs to the University of Ferrara and covers an area of 4,500 square metres. The collections, organised into five thematic sections, include around 700 species, making it easier to visit and understand the variety of plants.

Not to be missed: the section dedicated to exotic plants.

📍 Corso Porta Mare 2b, Ferrara
📞 +39 0532 293782
📧 ortobotanico@unife.it

Orto Botanico ed Erbario di Ferrara, Ingresso — Botanical Garden and Herbarium of Ferrara, Entrance

Herb Garden Ceroni

Inaugurato nel 1975 e intitolato al suo fondatore, Augusto Rinaldi Ceroni, il Giardino delle Erbe di Casola Valsenio è dedicato alla conservazione e coltivazione di piante officinali e aromatiche. Ospita circa 480 specie utilizzate da secoli in cucina, medicina e cosmesi, come avveniva nei laboratori dei conventi medievali.

Da non perdere: confetture artigianali e varietà di erbe aromatiche per uso gastronomico, e la fioritura della lavanda nel mese di giugno, quando il Giardino si colora di viola.

Opened in 1975 and named after its founder, Augusto Rinaldi Ceroni, the Giardino delle Erbe (Herb Garden) in Casola Valsenio is dedicated to the conservation and cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants. It is home to around 480 species that have been used for centuries in cooking, medicine and cosmetics, as was the case in medieval convent workshops.

Not to be missed: the handmade jams and varieties of aromatic herbs for culinary use, and the lavender in bloom in June, when the garden is coloured purple.

📍 Via del Corso 6, Casola Valsenio (RA)
📞 +30 335 1209933
📧 info@ilgiardinodelleerbe.it
💡 Instagram: @giardinodelleerbe