Italy

Padua's Botanical Gardens, begun in 1545, are the oldest in Europe. Orto Botanico, Padova Italy Imagine, today you can wander into the Botanical Gardens in Padua and visit a palm planted in 1585. In the Arboretum, a huge plane tree has been around since 1680, its trunk hollowed by a lightening strike.

Some of the more interesting collections are: •Insectivorous Plants - yep, the meat eaters of the plant kingdom have their own set of greenhouses. Watch your fingers. •Medicinal and poisonous plants - this is the historical purpose of the garden's foundation in 1545. •Itinerary for Blind People - Aromatic or thorny plants, in pots so they can be changed throughout the year. Labels are written in Braille. •Aquatic Plants - marvel at the number of different lilypads that are out there in the world.

The botanical gardens are located just south of the Basilica di Sant'Antonio. From the piazza in front of the Basilica, walk south on the street that parallels the front of the Basilica.

Winter: November 1-March 31: 9.00-13.00 (Mondays to Saturdays) Cost: 2.58 Euros