Herbarium at the Monastero di Torba: a weekend of plants, history and

Herbarium 2026 at Monastero di Torba: a weekend of herbs, culture and flavours

The Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano (FAI) brings the sixth edition of Herbarium to Monastero di Torba on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April 2026. The event combines a botanical market, educational activities and guided tours within a FAI property that is part of the UNESCO serial site “The Lombards in Italy. Places of Power (568–774 AD)”.

What to expect

• Stalls from Lombardy, Piedmont, Aosta Valley and Emilia-Romagna offering medicinal and aromatic plants, natural cosmetics and food products;
• Tastings and botanical cuisine proposals at the on-site tavern, plus themed picnic slots;
• Hands-on workshops (herbarium making, botanical illustration), lectures and activities for all ages;
• Guided tours explaining the complex’s 1,500-year history, from a Lombard military tower to a Benedictine monastery and later an agricultural farmhouse.

Key programme highlights

Saturday 18 April 2026

• Guided tours: 10:00, 12:00, 14:30, 15:30, 17:00 (approx. 50 minutes).
• Lecture "Growing aromatic herbs" at 11:00 — Matteo Cereda (45 minutes).
• Workshop "Thread-and-leaf herbarium" at 11:30 — Erica Marzucchi (120 minutes).
• Botanical picnic at 12:30 and 13:30 — curated by Spazio Bianco.
• Botanical illustration workshop at 15:00 — Cecilia Battaini (120 minutes).
• Lecture "Foraging for wild herbs" at 15:30 — Mina Novello (45 minutes).

Sunday 19 April 2026

• Guided tours: 10:00, 12:00, 14:30, 15:30, 17:00 (approx. 50 minutes).
• Botanical illustration workshop at 11:00 — Cecilia Battaini.
• Botanical walk at 11:30 and 16:00 — led by Elena Castoldi (identification of edible and medicinal plants, gathering and making a small herbarium).
• Botanical picnic at 12:30 and 13:30.
• Workshop "Thread-and-leaf herbarium" at 15:30 — Erica Marzucchi.

Tickets and access

Ticket options include basic admission, admission plus market, and bundled passes covering workshops, lectures and guided tours. Family rates and concessions for FAI members, residents, students and people with disabilities are available. Prices differ for online and on-site purchases; booking in advance is recommended.

Why visit Herbarium at Monastero di Torba

Herbarium offers a mix of botany, heritage and taste: it revives traditions once practised by Benedictine nuns who tended medicinal gardens from the 8th century. Visiting also allows discovery of a UNESCO site linked to Lombard history, through sensory experiences and educational activities designed for a wide audience.

Practical information

• Venue: Monastero di Torba, Gornate Olona (Varese).
• Dates: 18–19 April 2026.
• Main guided tour times: 10:00 • 12:00 • 14:30 • 15:30 • 17:00.
• Suitable for families, botany enthusiasts, students and professionals.

An ideal weekend to combine nature, heritage and flavour in a protected UNESCO setting.