The botanical garden, founded in 1872 and run by the university, sprawls over 14 hectares of hillside south of the centre — much larger than first-time visitors expect. It contains around 10,000 plant species, organised by theme: a Roman garden with plants used in antiquity, a Mediterranean section, a Japanese garden with a torii gate, an ornamental section, and several greenhouses.
The greenhouses are the most striking feature, especially the palm house with its tropical air and giant Amazon water lilies. The garden is a half-day visit if you take it seriously; with a coffee on the lawn afterwards, it's an afternoon. Locals use it as a park as much as a scientific collection.