Flowers, nature, wine, beauty and biodiversity will be the protagonists of Era di Maggio, the open-air event organised by Francesca Romana Maroni‘s Sens Eventi in collaboration with the Museo Orto Botanico di Roma on May 7-8.
The Trastevere garden, a true oasis of biodiversity located on the slopes of the Janiculum Hill, will be the setting and co-star of this event. It will be the perfect location for Era di Maggio, a great spring festival to be enjoyed among green plants, colourful flowers and rare botanical collections.
More than 140 activitiess will enliven the two-day event, designed to guide visitors in learning the most fascinating secrets of nature, and will include artistic and musical performances, craft exhibitions, guided tours of the wonders of the museum, as well as book presentations, street food, and wine tastings.
The focus of this edition of Era di Maggio will be the Botanical Garden’s collections of roses and irises, with their kaleidoscope of colours, the protagonists of extraordinary tours entitled “Il Sentiero dei Colori” (The Path of Colours) led by Maretta Colasante, one of the world’s leading iris experts, and Stefano Marzullo, rose garden manager, as well as the demonstration workshops “Alla Scoperta delle Rose” (Discovering Roses) held by rose hybridiser Davide Dalla Libera.
Era Di Maggio will be an opportunity for all visitors, from Rome and beyond, to discover the most evocative corners of the Botanical Garden thanks to themed guided tours: “The Water Path” will take participants on a stroll through the historic fountains, ponds and water sources fed by the Paul Aqueduct that embellish the garden; “The Path of the Orient”, among the cherry trees, magnolias and pools of water in the Japanese garden, will enchant participants until sunset; The “Wine Path” will be an opportunity to get to know the Vigneto Italia, a unique project strongly desired by Luca Maroni, a well-known sensory analyst of wine, which encloses in one place no less than 150 varieties of native cultivars from all the regions of Italy; “The Sun Path” will transport participants between the two sandy beaches of the coastline thanks to the scents and suggestions of the Mediterranean maquis.
Another important new feature will be the focus on bees and their importance for the ecosystem. Mario Petrella, from Le api di Mario, will give an up-close look at the mechanisms and secrets hidden inside the beehive, from the bees’ tasks to the production of honey.
During the two days, visitors will also have access to the House of Butterflies, where operators will guide them in their discovery of these extraordinary winged creatures.
Another important focus will be art, which will be present at various times during the event, from the exhibition of works by Marco Scaccia to the presentation of two books: In un seme. Manuale per piccoli collezionisti di meraviglie (In a seed. A manual for small collectors of wonders) by Beti Piotto and Gioia Marchegiani, and Cimart, a collection of works born from the collaboration between the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology) and the Liceo Artistico Alessandro Caravillani in Rome.
Era di Maggio will also feature food and ice-cream corners, as well as exhibitors of bulbs and rhizomes, carnivorous plants, succulent plants and kokeda, and handicrafts such as jewellery and furnishings.
Inside the garden, it will also be possible to book convenient and tasty YAM wicker picnic baskets for adults and children, containing, in addition to the disposable towel, filled sandwiches and salads, cakes and crispy chips to enjoy lunch in the open air surrounded by nature.