Horti.
Un luogo
Altro.

The Almo Collegio Borromeo in Pavia, in collaboration with the Province of Pavia and the Horti ETS Foundation, presents the international music competition ‘Sound Architectures’, open to composers of all musical genres. The aim of the music competition is to select an unpublished piece composed especially for the occasion, which will be performed at Edoardo Tresoldi’s monumental site-specific sculpture. The artist will create the work based on the concept of ‘Metaphysical Ruin’ on the archaeological remains of the church of San Marco in Monte Bertone, at the heart of the Horti.

Here, a space for living, community-based art will emerge, where music will take shape within a sculpture and be brought to life through the voices of musicians – both professional and amateur – who, over time, will perform the winning piece in different ways and styles.

As part of the ‘Emblematici Maggiori’ projects organised by Fondazione Cariplo and the Lombardy Region, this music competition forms part of ‘Luoghi di comunità armoniche’. ‘Concertazioni di umano e naturale’ is an initiative aimed at creating new gathering places where art – experienced in its auditory as well as visual dimensions – fosters experiences of listening and reflection.

Applications are open from 5 October 2026 to 30 June 2027. Would you like to take part?

Watch the presentation video here and find out more about the call for entries at the link

The Piero Cattaneo Foundation’s ‘Officina della Scultura’ exhibition series, dedicated to exploring the places, languages and processes of contemporary sculpture, is also coming to Pavia. 

On 17 and 18 October at 3.00 pm, the tour begins at the studio of Sergio Alberti, an artist whose work centres on the themes of the fragment, stratification and the exploration of materials. Stepping into his studio and being guided by the artist himself will be an opportunity to gain an up-close insight into his tools, materials and creative processes.

On Saturday and Sunday at 4.30 pm, following the studio visit, the tour moves to the Horti. Sergio Alberti, in conversation with Marcella Cattaneo – art historian and curator at the Piero Cattaneo Foundation – will guide the public on a discovery of the artist’s work on display in the park. Afterwards, Simone Miraldi, a guide at the Horti, will lead the public on a guided tour of the artistic exhibition. Register via the link.

Let’s get back together after the summer break with the Aperilibro event on Friday 30 October at 7:00 pm.

What happens when a long-standing cultural tradition – one that has shaped Russian identity – encounters the language of modern-day propaganda? And where does the fine line lie between contemporary reality and the myth of an imperial past?

We’ll be discussing this with Gian Piero Piretto, author of Il Paese di Putin. Venti parole al servizio della propaganda (Raffaello Cortina Editore), a journey through key words to understand how vocabulary can become a tool for storytelling, consensus-building and the consolidation of power.

Registration required via the link. Free event. For those who wish, an aperitivo is available for €10.

In 2025, we opened Horti Bistrò, a place that is not just a restaurant, but a space for growth and new opportunities. Every day, people with disabilities and prisoners benefiting from Article 21 participate in a training course for waiters and waitresses.

Here they learn about service, mise en place and professional skills, but above all they regain self-confidence and build their future. All this is possible thanks to work grants, which are essential tools for ensuring a real, dignified and supported path to integration.

With concrete support, our young people have the opportunity to test themselves, train and start afresh. Supporting a work grant means offering a chance for independence, inclusion and redemption. You too can make a difference: support a work grant, support their future.

Watch the video, to find out how much good you can do.