FIORILE | Gardens & Flowers on Display 2025

New Edition of Fiorile – Gardens & Flowers on Display, returning in all its spring splendor along with the Princess Maria Letizia of Savoy Rose Prize, organized by the Kòres Association. The event is dedicated to the worlds of nature and culture, of greenery and pink in all their forms. A major new feature this year is the presentation of the Golden Rose Princess Maria Letizia Award, created to honor the charitable spirit of the noblewoman of the House of Savoy, former ambassador of the Italian Red Cross, by recognizing a modern woman distinguished by her social and female-focused commitment.

On May 10th and 11th, the Rose Garden of the Moncalieri Castle will be animated by a curated exhibition featuring specialized nurseries—highlighting excellence in rose cultivation—along with food and agricultural producers, artisans, and designers. The festival offers a rich program with expert talks and activities related to gardening, horticulture, biodiversity, and sustainability, plus cultural events, workshops, music, and readings.

This will be a creative weekend for all ages with a central focus: celebrating and discovering the local area using a format that merges environmental and cultural policies, aligned with the goals of the Moncalieri Green City project.

Beneath the enchanting arcades of the Rose Garden, spaces will be dedicated to the Rose Prize awards, with themed events and deep dives, an exhibition of sustainable crafts, and the Corner of Knowledge and Flavors, offering immersive experiences, tastings, and food awareness events.

The Fiorile – Gardens & Flowers on Display event, now in its 11th edition, proudly revives a historic Moncalieri market tradition. Once again, it helps shape the cultural identity of the Po Protected Areas, the Turin Hills, and the 85 participating municipalities, designated a UNESCO MAB Reserve in 2016, with a focus on both natural and cultural heritage.

Among the floral arrangements curated by garden master Maurizio Feletig, local producers and nurseries selected for their seasonal excellence will celebrate the month of May—starting with the rose as a symbol of seasonal change. The programming will also embrace art, history, tradition, nature, literature, and biodiversity, all rooted in local memory and identity.

Exhibitor Highlights:

Nurseries: Feletig (roses and berries), Vivaio Buffa (peonies), KOI KOI Green Design (kokedama), Melo Selvatico (plants and colorful edible blooms).
Agricultural Producers: Le Tome di Villa (Maestri del Gusto), Le Rose di Mariya Ilieva (gourmet products from damask roses), Dufour à la Rose (Slow Food Presidium and cocktail), Le Lumache del Sol (cosmetics and supplements from pure snails), Italian Snail Farmers Confederation (CIE).
Artisans: recyCLAIRE (wood and air plants), Ferro e Giardino (garden decor), Gaita Lab (sustainable handmade decor and lifestyle items), Chiara Rosino (glass crafts from Nodo collective in Pinerolo), Elisa Sasso (ceramist from Nodo).

As part of the continuous rediscovery of the Moncalieri region, local specialties and blooming rose gardens will be highlighted. The immersive walks and the “Cammina Moncalieri” project continue, this time leading from the Rose Garden to Val Cenasco Landhouse, a beautiful family-run estate offering herbal teas and live music by Caravan Trio.

In partnership with the Salone del Libro Off, literary moments inspired by delicate, petal-like words will be featured: a tribute to Rosa Mogliasso, remembrance of Sicilian storyteller Rosa Balistreri, a poetic concert “Voices of the Roses,” and a portrait of noir writer Giorgio Scerbanenco. In collaboration with the bookstore L’Arco Nuovo di Moncalieri.

The Art Space will host ongoing hands-on workshops by Cinzia Scanavacca and Nadia Danzero, including the “Mom, I Made You a Rose Bouquet” course for Mother’s Day. Under the arcades, continuous workshops will be held by Cuore di Maglia (creating pink caps for premature baby girls) and Donne ai ferri corti (Urban Knitting specialists). The Barcollo ma non mollo non-profit will stage a fashion show among the rose paths to raise awareness on cancer-related issues.

Complementing the program is a biodiversity corner curated by Metropolitan Pollinators and Beesù, offering insights into the world of bees and their essential ecosystems. For Mother’s Day, themed workshops will focus on creating the most beautiful floral gifts.

Gala Evening – Saturday, May 10th at 7 PM, Cavallerizza Hall of the Royal Castle:

Following the official greetings:

Princess Maria Letizia Rose Prize awarded to the best rose hybridizer
Lifetime Achievement Award to rose expert Anna Pejron
Golden Rose Award to a performing artist distinguished by social commitment and advocacy for women
Artist Hilario Isola will personally present a specially commissioned artwork for the award.
Aperitif by Pasticceria Rivetti of Moncalieri, with Swing Belle Epoque by Dr. Swing and Biciclette, plus special “Rosé” hair styling by HC Studio.

Program

Saturday, May 10

10:00 AM: Rose Garden gates open
10:30 AM: Immersive walk to Val Cenasco Landhouse (music by Caravan Trio; in collaboration with ASD Andrate Nordic Walking)
11:00 AM: Tribute to Rosa Mogliasso (with Antonella Giani and Corallina De Maria)
12:00 PM: Practical course: “Mom, I Made You a Rose Bouquet!”
1:00 PM: Tasting break
3:30 PM: Terrarium workshop by Erica Selvatica
4:00 PM: Story of Rosa Balistreri (with Arianna Abis and Sicilian musician Nino Carriglio)
5:00 PM: Roundtable “Rosa Rosae” with experts including Marco Devecchi, Lucia Impelluso, Cristiana Ruspa, Stefania Bisacco, and Maurizio Feletig
6:00 PM: Rose Garden gates close
7:00 PM: Gala evening at the Royal Castle’s Cavallerizza

Sunday, May 11

10:00 AM: Rose Garden gates open
11:00 AM: Barcollo ma non mollo fashion show
12:00 PM: Practical course: “Mom, I Made You a Rose Bouquet!”
1:00 PM: Tasting break
3:30 PM: Terrarium workshop by Erica Selvatica
3:30 PM: “Giorgio Scerbanenco in Pink” with Cecilia Scerbanenco and Enrico Pandiani
4:30 PM: Poetic concert “Voices of the Rose” (by Elisabetta Motta with Davide Ferrari, Vincenzo Zitello on harp, Fulvio Renzi on violin)
5:30 PM: Final concert “The Four Seasons” in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II