From 2 to 5 October 2025, the historic home overlooking Lake Como will welcome the fifteenth edition of Orticolario, the event that celebrates nature and the landscape with a never banal approach. This year the theme “Eden” promises to amaze visitors with a path that goes beyond the simple botany exhibition.
That’s why it is worth marking these dates on the agenda.
You will find the celebration of wild and unspoiled nature
Forget the perfect and tidy garden. The 2025 edition explores a powerful and indomitable nature, where biodiversity reigns supreme. The organizers have chosen to move away from the classic idea of perfection to embrace the spontaneous beauty of the natural spaces, a courageous approach that invites to look at plants with new eyes, rediscovering that ancestral bond that man has always had with the plant world.
You will know the edible spontaneous herbs
At the center of attention are the edible spontaneous herbs, those plants that our grandparents collected in the fields and that today are experiencing a second youth thanks to foranging. This is not a passing fashion: these plants represent a heritage of ancient knowledge and a precious resource for those who want to approach a more conscious diet.
During the four days of the event, experts such as Giulio Bassanese, Lucia Papponi and Mariangela Susigan will guide the participants to discover this world through different practical workshops and a path between curiosity and accessible botanical knowledge.
You will meet Antonia Klugmann who brings the wild to the plate
The chef of the restaurant “L’Argine a Vencò”, in the province of Gorizia, will be the guest of honor of the edition. His presence is not accidental: Antonia Klugmann has built his culinary philosophy on respect for the earth and the use of spontaneous herbs.
His is an ethical cuisine and deeply rooted in the territory, which perfectly represents the spirit of this edition. Visitors will have the opportunity to confront a professional who has made nature his inspiring muse.
You can immerse yourself in the installations in competition from the “Dzonot” Cenote to the Villa Erba wood
Seven finalist projects will compete for “The gold leaf of Lake Como” in the International Creative Spaces Competition.
Each garden tells a different story: “The rediscovered garden” brings to memory the lost places, “Hortus/Silva” explores the boundary between cultivated and wild, while “ecospitual” invites meditation.
To these are added the out of competition installations as “And therefore we came out to see the stars” of Mantero Silk in the atrium of the villa and “Dzonot” in the central pavilion, inspired by the Mexican cenotes.
Kimiyasu Kato presents “La Mela”, while the Maetherea collective proposes “Undersory”. Every corner of the villa will become a real theater of wonder.
The first biological market of horticultural
Great novelty of this year is the area dedicated to biological and artisan producers. Don’t worry, this is not the usual market: here you will find selected companies that enhance the halimurgical plants and offer products related to the philosophy of the event. An opportunity to discover local realities and bring home the genuine flavors of the Italian gastronomic tradition, from preserves to herbal teas, from the cheeses of hut to the oldest flours.
A space dedicated to holistic well -being
Margherita Sartori’s holistic study will take care of an area entirely dedicated to well -being. Yoga at dawn, holistic hypnosis sessions, naturopathy consultancy: a program that looks to the person in its entirety. In a world that runs faster and faster, Orticolario offers an oasis to stop and find balance. Recall that the activities are designed for everyone, from beginners to experts, so don’t worry and go without thoughts.
Villa Erba and Lake Como: the frame of the event
Villa Erba, nineteenth -century residence by Luchino Visconti, is the perfect frame for Orticolario. With its historical park overlooking the lake, the place itself becomes an integral part of the narrative.
In autumn, Lake Como offers itself in its most intimate guise, far from summer tourism. And for those who want a spectacular entrance, there is the free boat boat from Como, active on the weekend and capable of transforming the arrival into a scenic prelude to the event.
An event that is good for the territory
Orticolario is not just beauty and culture. Through the Fondo Friends of Orticolario, at the Provincial Foundation of the Comasca Community, the event supports five local associations: Abio Como, Croce Azzurra, Vincentian volunteer groups, Sim-Pathy Social Cooperative and the Sorriso Social Cooperative. Participating therefore means contributing to concrete projects for the territory. The inaugural evening “A Green Banquet with Purpose” will be a special moment to combine conviviality and solidarity.
Over 250 exhibitors between excellent nurserymen and selected craftsmen complete the offer. Among the new entries, the Ecuadorian nursery Ecuadorquideas will bring an exotic touch to the dowry, while Orvieto fruit growing will present rare varieties of ancient fruits.
Useful information
The 2025 event will open the gates from Thursday 2 October 2025 to Sunday 5 October, with the following opening hours:
Buy your ticket on the Orticolario.it website, with the Discount Code Prontoxorticolario25 you will have a valid discount for the purchase of tickets to open date at the reduced price of 18.00 euros instead of 22.00 euros.
The ticket open, which can be purchased on the Ticket.it website, allows entry into a day of your choice from 2 to 5 October.
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