The garden was started in 1544 under Cosimo I de ' Medici as the first university botanical garden in Europe , and it was put under the care of the famous botanist Luca Ghini of Imola . The garden was established in 1544 under Cosimo I de ' Medici as the first university botanical garden in Europe , and entrusted to the famous botanist Luca Ghini of Imola .