Giuliano Mauri's Third Vegetal Cathedral Rises in Lodi

A third Vegetal Cathedral by the late Italian artist Giuliano Mauri (1938–2009) is under construction in Lodi, on the left bank of the Adda River in the Ex Sicc area. The installation, set to open in September 2016, follows the artist's testamentary wishes for a cathedral in his hometown. The structure covers 1,618 square meters, consists of 108 wooden columns (each 1.20 meters in diameter), stands 18 meters high, 72 meters long, and 22.48 meters wide. It will house 108 trees, guiding their growth. Mauri first conceived the idea in the 1980s, but realized the first Vegetal Cathedral in 2001 at Arte Sella (Borgo Valsugana, Trento), thanks to artistic director Emanuele Montibeller. That installation became a symbol of the valley, attracting thousands of visitors annually. The second cathedral, begun by Mauri and completed by his family, is in the Parco delle Orobie (Bergamo), in a more isolated setting. The Associazione Giuliano Mauri, with the Comune di Lodi, Regione Lombardia, Italian art luminaries, private sponsors, and patronage from La Triennale di Milano, is realizing Mauri's dream. Artistic direction is coordinated by Mauri's children, with curation by Francesca Regorda and oversight by Lodi's environmental assessor.