"The Botanical Garden of Padova was founded by the Republic of Venice on June 29 1545, upon the urgent request of the medical school of the University. It is the oldest university Horto Medicinale in the world still in its original setting, with its structure practically unaltered. The Botanical Garden enjoys autonomy since from July 01 st, 2002 it became a "Centro di Ateneo Orto Botanico dell' Università di Padova". It is directed by a prefect and managed by a technico-scientific committee, and has its own technical personnel. From the year of its foundation, the main aim of the Garden was the cultivation, study and experimentation of medicinal plants, both native to Italy and exotic, so that students could receive proper instruction, both practical and theoretical, in their uses and applications..."

You can see more about this marvellous garden here: http://www.ortobotanico.unipd.it/orto-ingl.html