I visited the botanical gardens in late September 2018 on a warm and sunny day.  Having seen a lot of old towns and churches recently, these gardens came as a lovely surprise.  Not being particularly interested in gardens or gardening, I was not greatly enthused by the thought of this visit, however I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hours I spent here.  The garden is in two parts, the old, historical garden and a new garden contained within a large metal and glass building.  The two could not be more different, but both were equally enjoyable, focusing on different aspects of our interactions with plants over time.

The old garden was not at its best at this time of year, and I felt that it was a little untidy and unloved in places.  The sense of history was palpable though, and it was fascinating to understand the role of the garden in influencing other botanical gardens and botanical studies around the world.

The new garden had a similar feel to the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, in that it housed plants from different climates, such as Arid, Temperate, Rainforest etc.  The focus here though was more on human's relationship with plants, through history, and into the future.  It was actually very interesting.

The cost, which includes both gardens is EUR 10 per adult.  The gardens are located to the south of the city, just past the incredible St Anthony's Basilica, and about a 25 minute walk from the station.