The Orto Botanico di Brera (5,000 m²) is a botanical garden located behind Palazzo Brera at Via Brera 28 in the center of Milan, Lombardy, Italy, and operated by the Istituto di Fisica Generale Applicata of the University of Milan. It is open weekdays without charge. The garden was established in 1774 by Abbot Fulgenzio Vitman under the direction of Maria Theresa of Austria, transforming an existing Jesuit garden to serve students of medicine and pharmacology.