The Minerva Garden was created in the 18th century by Matteo Silvatico, an important doctor of the famous Salerno Medical School, the oldest medical university in the world, among the greatest titles of pride of the city of Salerno. Dr.. Silvatico created the first example of Botanical Garden: an educational space where doctors taught students to recognize the "simple", plants used to treat diseases. A garden that Silvatico enriched with rare and exotic species discovered during his countless travels. After the restoration of the 2001 numerous plants have been planted in the garden, also rare, by giving the Particolating score from the categories cited in the Salerno Health Organization and the Work of the Pandectarum of Medicine, which were used in the Middle Ages as medicinal plants. In particular, the legendary mandrake is present in the garden, plant that was believed to have extraordinary powers.
Today, the historic Giardini della Minerva represent one of the most important and significant pieces of the rebirth of the historic center of Salerno. Developed in the nineties, they are an essential stop on all major city tours. The garden, in synergy with the “Salerno Medical School Foundation”, and with some local associations, offers animated guided tours, hospitality and cultural refreshment services, in line with the history of the places and the memory of the Salerno Medical School. Educational and scientific activities are also held.

Inside the Minerva Garden, you can find some medieval painted tiles, discovered during the restoration of Palazzo Capasso. The garden hosts exhibitions and events of particular interest in all seasons. The restaurant is managed by the Nemus Association, specialized in the preparation of herbal teas with local and certified products. The 3 May 2008 was inaugurated in Salerno, in the Garden of Minerva, il Pharmacy Museum in memory of Rosario Mazzella. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Maria Antonietta Petruzzi Mazzella who, with the aim of creating an exhibition, granted on loan to the municipal administration period materials belonging to his father, an esteemed pharmacist; valuable materials and books are on display in the Palazzo Capasso.

The material exhibited:

1. Precision slingbar
2. Laboratory glassware
3. Pillhouse
4. Mortar
5. Ceramic pottery for pharmacy
6. Syringe
7. Misurini
8. Still
9. Ebulliometro
10. Laboratory compressor

Textbooks:

1. Pharmacopoeia of 1735 by Niccolo Lemery, Hertz printing house in Venice
2. Medicaments (2 tomes - from the early 1900s)
3. Treatise on Pharmacology (Primo ‘900)
4. Collection of pharmaceutical journals (1889-1993)
5. Elements of physics (1841)