Healing Gardens and Green Routes in Bergamo and Ferrara

The tenth edition of I Maestri del Paesaggio in Bergamo, originally scheduled for 2020, was reimagined as a special edition focused on well-being after the pandemic. Organizers Arketipos and the City of Bergamo launched 'Green to the People' to create a healing garden at the Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII. Piazza Vecchia was transformed into a therapeutic path with wooden tables designed by architect Michele De Lucchi, surrounded by native plants and trees available for purchase, with proceeds funding the future garden. The event included cultural talks and educational workshops. Meanwhile, in Ferrara, the Interno Verde program offers visits to over seventy public and private urban gardens, including Parco Massari, secret gardens in the Jewish ghetto, and Villa Hirsch park, associated with Giorgio Bassani's novel. Interno Verde has also expanded to Mantua, with a tour scheduled for September 25–27, 2020. Claudia Zanfi, founder of the GREEN ISLAND program, collaborates on these projects.