ONCE UPON a time, the School of Medicine in Salerno city…
No, it’s wrong, THERE still IS the School of Medicine! The Hortus Botanicus has been preserved and can be visited in the historical center of Salerno city (Campania region, close to Napoli in the south of Itay) and it is literally amazing! Yet, here you can also try the herbal tea made with the herbs of the garden, once used for therapeutic purposes; I could define it as a playground for sommelier who enjoy learning all the possible aromas to be smelled. Finally, before you go, just ask to play a simple game, which recalls some old medical principles, to select the herbal tea more suitable for you at that moment!
I am talking about “Giardini della Minerva” where in 1300 a.C. Matteo Silvatico instituted a Garden with several different plants, well listed. From these plants were obtained therapeutic substances and here, Matteo Silvatico, held educational activities for students of the Medical School.
The restoration project of the garden was completed in 2000 by the local administration (the local council is still the owner of the gardens) and then carefully looked after by mr. Luciano Mauro; it’s also important to underline the role of mr. Pellecchia, the head gardener, and also the effort of the associations Erchemperto, Hortus Magnus and last but not least Nemus association with Gianpaolo and the very dynamic Umberto, who guided me through such a paradise!
It is a place of immense historical value, with view over Salerno city and the sea, allowing to discover the infinite variety of plants … to be also tasted by the way!
And that’s why Mr. Umberto for example, organizes tours for schools, an initiative that I really appreciate: a way to educate at recognizing the aromas of the nature. Students are encouraged to identity certain plants or roots for example smelling them. A place like this is the envy of sommeliers, as I mentioned at the beginning, which, not surprisingly, held a few meetings in this unique place to train their nose!
The garden is open to the public and do not forget to try some herbal tea: cool in summer and warm in winter. In the summer, do it on the terrace overlooking the city and you will not regret to have read this article. I’ve tried two delicious ones: the first one made of mint, rosemary, licorice that gives you a sort of bitter impact but in the final leaves a sweet taste thanks to the action of licorice. And then a harder one, made of rose and carcadè: sour but perfect to be combined to fat dishes, cheeses or similar. In fact, there are plenty of tasting events with herbs protagonists.
In 2013 there were 15,237 visitors in September 2014 this number has already been exceeded, are you already part of those?
