When Luca Ghini founded the Botanical Garden of the Pisa University in 1544 he was appointed medicine and botany professor by Cosimo I de’ Medici. The original seat was in the Medici armoury but it was moved to the San Francesco district of Pisa and later, in 1591, to where it is today. The aim of the botanical garden was to study plants for medicinal use. There are some rare varieties here and the gardens can be visited with a guide. Part of the 16th Century building retains its original façade which is decorated with a mosaic of shells and stones.
