Frescati is part of the Royal National City Park (Kungliga nationalstadsparken).
The name originated with Villa Frescati which was designed in 1791–1792 by the architect Louis Jean Desprez (ca 1743–1804) for courtier and diplomat Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt (1757–1814).
During the 19th century the name began to be used for a larger area in the vicinity of the house, and the Royal Swedish Academy for Agriculture established its Experimental Field there.
It was followed by a number of other scientific and academic institutions, including the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Museum of Natural History, the Bergian Garden, a botanical garden, and eventually Stockholm University.
Frescati (including the campus area) is today a part of the Royal National City Park.