Hidden behind the South facade of the Palazzo di Brera, the Orto Botanico di Brera is a romantic green oasis among the buildings in the center of Milan. A historic garden, officially recognized as a Museum. The garden has a long history, dating back to the 14th century, when it was a place of meditation and plant cultivation for the Umiliati fathers and later, from the 16th century, for the Jesuits. In the second half of the 18th century, by the will of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, the Palazzo di Brera became a cultural center of reference in Milan for art, literature, and sciences. In this context, in 1775 the garden was established as the Orto Botanico di Brera and, since then, it has served as a place of higher education in pharmacy and medicine, using the medicinal species cultivated within its walls. In 1935, the Orto was annexed to the University of Milan, which still manages it today.
