Brera Botanical Gardens

The botanical gardens hidden within the Palazzo di Brera are a quiet oasis in the chaos of central Milan.

This interesting complex was built in 1774 on the orders of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and spans five thousand square metres accommodating over 300 species of plants, including two of the oldest maidenhair trees in Europe, a rare Caucasian walnut tree and a majestic, over forty metres tall linden tree, not to mention the conservatory designed by Giuseppe Piermarini and the 18th-century water lily and iris pond.

The flowerbeds are also home to a variety of medicinal herbs, vegetables and a collection of flower bulbs selected with the collaboration of the International Flower Bulb Centre in Hillegom, Holland.

Since 2005 the botanical gardens and the adjacent observatory, built in the same years, have become a museum complex managed by the University of Milan. A visit during the Fuorisalone, the series of events and exhibitions that take place during Milan Design Week, to enjoy the art installations and events at the botanical gardens is an absolute must.