The Garden of Minerva is located in the heart of the historical center of Salerno, in an area called the Middle Ages “Plaium montis”, halfway of an ideal path that runs along the axis of the walled and terraced gardens that rise up from the Town Park, Fusandola around the creek, to the Castello di Arechi.

The “greenhouse” was the property of Silvatico family since the twelfth century, as evidenced by a parchment kept in the archive of the Abbey of Cava de ‘Tirreni. Later, in the first two decades of the 1300s, the teacher Matthew Silvatico, will set up a simple Garden, forerunner of all future botanical gardens in Europe.

From the work of Silvatico, entitled Opus pandectarum medicinae, we obtain the first description of the Garden: “… and I have a taro, in Salerno, in my garden, in a conspicuous source.” In this space of extraordinary cultural value, identifiable today, in fact, in the Garden of Minerva, they were cultivated some of the plants from which were obtained the active ingredients used for therapeutic purposes. Matthew Silvatico played only also a true teaching to show the students of the Medical School of the plants with their names and their characteristics (Ostensio Simplicium). The medieval garden, in the course of a recent campaign of archaeological investigations, was found at about two meters below the current ground level.

In 1666 Don Diego Core ‘… fe buy sheds a palazziata house with gardens … the house with garden was restored and accommodated and made inhabitable. “Moreover notary From the act is obtained one of the first descriptions of the terrace and garden: “… there is a loggia partly covered in lamia sailing supported by pillars and part discovery and paved around, with his pieces astrico which enjoys the sea and the neighboring mountains, with a fountain in the right of it with perennial water … there is a wall that holds the fountain, but it is shabby and could collapse damaging the lodge … in it there is a door with seven degrees is drawn into the garden which consists of a level place, it has two feet of fig, two cetrangolo and lives that were pergola over eight factory pillars, but this can be seen on the ground because they are rotted timbers that formed the same, other side pillars have fallen and damaged part. “the fish pond is also mentioned and the staircase leading to the second level of the garden. In this there are other fig trees and a fountain that feeds the basin below. The property, then, in the middle of the seventeenth century, despite many failures, already showing the appearance that currently characterizes the place.

Last owner was Professor Giovanni Capasso that, thanks to the lawyer Gaetano Nunziante, President Asylum for the Poor, donated after World War II the entire property to such charitable institution.

In November 1991, in Salerno, during the proceedings of the symposium entitled Think the garden, was presented the project for the construction of a botanical garden dedicated to Silvatico and its Garden of the simple. This project was also funded and built in 2000 the Municipal Administration (current owner of the property) using the providences of the European program “Urban”.

What is now, at the end of the restoration work, it is clear to the visitor is an interesting set component attributable to the XVII and XVIII centuries. Among them, the most characteristic is a long stairway, emphasized by a plant cruciform pillars, which support a wooden pergola. The staircase, linking and framing visually the different levels of the garden is built on the ancient walls of the city and allows a wide and privileged view of the sea, the historic center and hills. A complex water distribution system, consisting of pipes, tanks and fountains (one for each terracing), denotes the presence of large sources that have allowed, over the centuries, maintaining a culture of plots. The site also has a special microclimate, favored by the low incidence of the north wind and the favorable exposure, which, even today, allows the cultivation of demanding plant species in terms of moisture and heat.

Inspection Regulation

Minerva Gardens is open from Tuesday to Sunday; times are in turn communicated through this website (see introduction) and displayed at the entrance of the Garden. Access is allowed up to thirty minutes before closing time.

Please observe, in particular, to the following rules for a more profitable and safe stay:

• It is recommended the use of shoes with low heels;
• you’ll want to observe a respectful behavior and refrain from shouting;
• the photo shoots, film and television are only permitted for private use; for shooting with tripod, flash and artificial lights or otherwise commercially available, it is necessary to turn to the direction of the Garden;
• is non-smoking;
• is not allowed to pick flowers, fruits, seeds or other plant parts even if fallen on the ground;
• Under no circumstances should you enter the cultivation areas;
• is not allowed to leave litter on the streets, stairs and flower beds; It is required to use the appropriate bins waste bin;
• is not allowed entry of cycles, skates, scooters or similar games;
• is not allowed the entry of animals, even if on a leash;
• is not allowed entry to children under 14 unless accompanied by an adult;
• is not allowed to use the ball or other equipment for playing outdoors.

Violators will be removed from the site and in case of damage to property, plants or otherwise, required to pay for damage caused. Without it will the complaint with the competent authority.

Please note that the Garden, because of interest within the meaning and the effects of Legislative Decree no. 490/99, is not subject to the provisions of Presidential Decree 626/94: in it, therefore, they are not insured the usual safety measures in new buildings. It will therefore be extremely careful in moving, especially along the pergola and staircase railings near the boundary of the terraced areas.

For groups of more than 15 units and within 100 units and school visits must be booked by calling, at least 3 days prior to the numbers: (+39) 089 252 423 (office hours), or by sending an e-mail to the secretariat of the garden.