Horti

Horti dell'Almo Collegio Borromeo in Pavia were inaugurated in September 2022 in Pavia. Italy's oldest university college of merit has opened its doors to the 35,000 square metre park where natural habitats, contemporary art, cultural reflection, ethical commitment, equity and social inclusion intertwine. This area, located in the historic centre of Pavia, once dedicated to the cultivation of vegetable gardens and orchards for the College's students, is now a place for sociality, creativity and knowledge. The Almo Collegio Borromeo was founded in Pavia in 1561 by Carlo Borromeo to give boys from the less affluent social classes the opportunity to study at the University of Pavia. The Rector of the College, Alberto Lolli, animated by the conviction that beauty has a redeeming and pedagogical force, succeeded in creating a park that is characterised as a space of social inclusion open to the public. Today, this green space offers a rich cultural programme. Collaboration with the University of Pavia, the Pavia Botanical Garden and the Sant'Alessio Oasis has made it possible to enhance the park's naturalistic value through the creation of water paths, the planting of thousands of new plants and the installation of bird feeders, insect houses and beehives. Also, the theme of contemporary art has been developed through the placement of a permanent exhibition of sculptures and wall paintings by internationally renowned artists, including Arnaldo Pomodoro, Gianfranco Pardi, Nicola Carrino and Luigi Mainolfi. In addition, at the centre of the park is the archaeological area of the church of San Marco in Monte Bertone, duly brought to light by excavations.