EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS AT THE GALLERIA BORGHESE
On September 24 and 25, come discover the Galleria Borghese and its rich program of initiatives for the European Heritage Days, Europe’s largest and most widely attended annual cultural event. This year’s theme is “Sustainable cultural heritage: a legacy for the future,” chosen by the European Council and shared by the participating member countries to reflect on cultural heritage as a legacy for future generations.
During this weekend, visitors to the museum will be able to admire the splendid 17th-century Uccelliera garden, which is exceptionally open. The Uccelliera garden is a typical example of a Roman garden, commissioned by Scipione Borghese in the early 17th century. Despite the numerous modifications it has undergone over time, it has preserved its original layout, with the typical geometric “cassette” arrangement (the flowerbeds of the time), bounded by a border of Roman tiles that allows close contemplation of each species.
In the garden at the time were grown valuable and exotic flowers such as bulbaceous and ancient cultivars resulting from the selections of florists of the epoc. It is possible to admire, among other things, a collection of citrus fruits with different varieties including Citrus limon, the most classic of lemons, Citrus mitis, sinensis, maxima, and limetta.
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At about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday is scheduled the release of different varieties of ladybugs, natural predators of aphids – the common plant lice – of aleurodids – the white and grey butterflies pests of many ornamental plants – of mealybugs and other harmful species. This initiative is to promote the eco-sustainability of heritage with integrated pest management solutions, for a conscious and responsible management of the environment for the future of the younger generations.
As part of the rich programming that the museum offers on an ongoing basis to people with different fragilities, and given the concurrence with the International Week of Deaf People (September 19-25), the Galleria Borghese is offering visits on the occasion of the European Heritage Days under the theme of inclusion and accessibility, for a museum as a place of active participation for All.
At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday there will be a visit to the gardens for 25 deaf and hearing people together, in dual language, Italian and Italian Sign Language (LIS). The visit is part of the Stories of Cardinal Scipione and the House of Borghese project, which was launched last year and outlines thematic paths within the museum making use of the great heritage of stories linked to its extraordinary collections. The initiative is in collaboration with Violante Nonno, a deaf art historian. On this occasion, A scuola con Scipione Borghese will be presented, a pilot project in LIS dedicated to the training of deaf people who will join with the aim of trying their hand at making videos in LIS, with personal and unpublished content on the works of the Borghese collection. An experimental communication project in which the public with disabilities themselves are at the center of the educational action, invited to active participation and sharing of the museum experience with new audiences to be involved.
At 10:30 a.m. on Sunday in Cardinal Scipione’s “forest of statues”, will take place a tactile journey for people with visual impairments and sighted people together on a selection from the Borghese archaeological collection, with Lucilla D’Antilio, a blind sculptor, and Rasul Mojaverian, an archaeologist.
For both 10:30 a.m. events, reservations are required by writing to: ga-bor.accessibilita@cultura.
As usual on the occasion of the European Heritage Days, the Museum is offering a special evening opening on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. (last admission 8:30 p.m.) at the symbolic price of 1 euro, subject to booking fees and usual gratuities. Reservations are required by calling 06 32810 or here