Hidden behind high walls and the shade of palms, the ‘Botanical Gardens of Valencia’ is a place of Science, Culture and Nature. Just minutes away from El Jardin Del Turia and Old Town Valencia, the Botanical Gardens is a secret paradise.

The Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia originated from an orchard used to teach botanical studies and grow medicinal herbs, which dates to the 16th century. In the 18th century, a new garden was projected and the gardens as we know it opened its present site in 1802. The gardens remain a centre of education, study and public use to this day.

The gardens occasionally offer free open days, with guided tours but if you prefer you can walk the grounds at your own pace and enjoyment. The usual entry fee is only 3€ with children under 7 entering for free. They also offer reduced rates ranging from 1.10€  to 2.60€ for students, seniors, unemployed or groups.

Before you enter the garden, you step through an open-roofed, circular building that is sometimes bursting with foliage and foreshadowing the beauty that is to come. As you step out into the garden , you feel as though you have entered a pre-historic beauty spot. With over 3,000 species of trees and plants from across the globe, you begin to walk down the different paths overwhelmed with the variety of palms, tropical shrubs, succulents, cacti and desert flora.

The architecture of the greenhouses and enclosures are magnificent, straight lines and contrasting curves with a mixture of glass, metals and stonework. The medicinal garden is particularly noteworthy with an extensive collection of herbs with properties known to aid every kind of ailment from anxiety to burns.

Amongst the greenery, there are also water features and fish ponds with plenty of benches to sit and relax. There are no time constraints to your entry, only the opening and closing hours. The Botanical Gardens are the perfect nature escape within the city to not only educate and study but to lose hours to the beauty and relaxing energy the gardens propel.

Report  by Elizabeth Williams
Article & photo  copyright ’24/7 Valencia’

BOTANICAL GARDENS OF VALENCIA
(Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Valencia)

C/ Quart, 80
E-46008, Valencia
botanic@uv.es
Telephone:
96 315 68 00 / 96 315 68 17
Website: http://jardibotanic.org/

Opening hours:
Open every day, except the 25th of December and the 1st of January and days registering wind and rain:
November to February, from 10 to 18 h.
March and October, from 10h to 19h.
April and September, from 10h to 20h.
May to August, from 10h to 21h

FREE ACCESS DAYS

Dates are subject to change and will be communicated well in advance on their website: http://jardibotanic.org/

Tree Day: 31 January
Forest and Early Spring Day: 21 March
Monuments and Historical Sites Day: 18 April
Museums and Fascination of Plants Day: 18 May
Biodiversity Day: 22 May
Environment Day: 5 June
Science Day: last Sunday in November