The Pavia garden of herbs (Orto dei Semplici), mentioned as early as 1558, was relocated between 1772 and 1774 as a botanical garden in its present grounds and premises (previously the rectory of Sant'Epifanio). Work began in 1776 on the construction of the wooden conservatories (architect G. Piermarini), which were rebuilt in masonry at the beginning of the 19th century (architect L. Canonica). These are known as the "Scopoli conservatories" after the physician and botanist G.A. Scopoli, who taught there from 1777 to 1788 and also planted the monumental plane tree to north of them. 

The new conservatories built in the 19th century included the Briosi orangery. The present layout was developed in the period 1945- 48 by R. Ciferri on the model of the grounds of 17th and 18th-century Lombard villas. R. Tomaselli had a hothouse built for tropical species in 1974. The botanical garden covers an area of two hectares and has approximately 2,000 species. There are azaleas and roses to the south, conifers to the south-east, and broad-leaf species between the building and the conservatories. The Scopoli conservatories contain succulents and cycadaceae.