SAN SALVARIO HAS A GREEN HEART returns again this year to transform the central boulevard of the neighborhood into a lush garden of good practices. Beneath the centuries-old trees of Corso Marconi, an event dedicated to greenery, art, and culture will take place with the involvement of associations, nurseries, florists, artisans, sustainable and local agricultural producers. It’s a true celebration, designed to actively engage the public in reimagining and reclaiming shared urban spaces.

Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May, from 10 AM to 7 PM, Giardino Forbito honors the fighting spirit of women dedicated to defending civil society—committed for years to the revitalization of San Salvario and the promotion of sustainable environmental and social policies. These women have long championed the pedestrianization of many local areas, especially the final stretch of Corso Marconi between Via Madama Cristina and Corso Massimo D’Azeglio. This year, with hopes of achieving full pedestrianization, the event expands over two full days, with double the number of exhibitors. Corso Marconi will host a more diverse selection of horticultural, agricultural, and artisanal products, along with non-profit cultural associations involved in art, nature, and community development.

The weekend is fully dedicated to sharing good practices through talks and testimonials, botanical workshops, guided neighborhood tours, literary and musical events, and even a white night titled “Bicycles, Art, and Music”, encouraging locals to leave their cars behind and enjoy a sustainable Saturday evening.

Corso Marconi will host areas for talks and community discussions with voices from groups such as Donne per la Difesa della Società Civile, Torino Social Impact, the Metropolitan City of Turin, the Slow Food Community of Urban Pollinators, and many others. Special openings include San Salvatore Church, the Botanical Garden, and the Eva Mameli Calvino Garden, with collaborations from organizations like Floritalia, Laqup, Lombroso 16 Cultural Hub, Ecoborgo Campidoglio Aps, Un Caffè, ASAI, Asilo Bai, Circoscrizione 8, and the San Salvario Local Development Agency.

Master gardener Marco Gramaglia will create multiple installations with related botany lessons: from a dye plant textile corner, to a children’s plant alphabet corner, to one on fragrance plants. At the Botanical Garden, together with artist Raffaella Brusaglino, pioneering plants will wrap around the sculpture “Pioniera”, celebrating nature’s strength. Audio compositions from Linda Messerklinger’s project Anima_L will blend with readings from Alessandra Viola’s best-seller Flower Power. Holistic and wellness practices will involve the public, including free Shiatsu treatments by the European Shiatsu Institute of Turin, a capoeira parade by ASAI, and performances by Boogie Woogie cultural mediators.

The Urban Pollinators Association will lead educational programs on biodiversity and ecology, supported by poetry and readings curated with Ginzburg Library and local bookstores Trebisonda, Claudiana, Graphot Editions, and Acquario. Students from Liceo Alfieri will meet peers from other schools, Book Silent will offer whispered book recommendations, and authors Filosofinatto and Enrica Melossi will animate a “literary bench.” Special guest: Alessandra Viola.

Shared activities include a collective painting performance by Adriano Rosso, a meeting with children from Asilo Bay and their Ortoalto rooftop garden project, and spring hairstyles from HC Studio for the evening festivities.

The sustainable fashion and natural textiles corner will host Cuore di Maglia, with workshops crafting green hats for premature infants, the Green Hugs by Donne ai Ferri Corti, and other urban knitting, embroidery, and upcycling labs involving Sartoria Popolare, Sartoria Il Gelso, Claudia Comar, Fiordacanto, Startlap, Canapa di EM, and others.

The Urban Pollinators and the Pioniera sculpture will explore local wild flora, while Pentesilea Association will guide tours through San Salvario’s history and present. Made in Sansa will offer artisan shop and sustainable venue tours. This year, the Balcone Fiorito contest will be awarded by Asproflor, who will be present with a dedicated stand.

Eva Mameli Calvino Garden will host a rich program curated by Donne per la Difesa della Società Civile, including stories from the Women of Via Calandra, promoting biocultural corridors in the city.

In partnership with the Turin International Book Fair, three new trees—won at the 2024 New Year’s Concert—will be planted near schools in San Salvario. During the special opening of San Salvatore Church, enjoy a performance by Coro Cantabile, directed by Maestro Guiot.

With Arthecity and Torino Creativa, seven street art stations will be activated across the district:

• In front of Bicierin and ASAI – Via Cesare Lombroso
• In front of Circolo Sud – Via Principe Tommaso
• In front of Antro – Largo Saluzzo
• In front of Casa del Quartiere – Ginzburg Garden
• In front of Ristorante Uliveto – Via Bidone
• In front of Bar Università – Corso Marconi
• In front of Lombroso 16 Cultural Hub – Via Lombroso

Bicierin will serve as headquarters for the Saturday night white night “Bicycles, Art, and Music”, featuring a bicycle flash mob, street artist hunt, and visits to participating venues offering green menus, exhibitions, and events. This weekend welcomes buskers and street artists—local and international—who will rotate through booked spots. Artistic director: Linda Messerklinger.

All of this adds new routes and segments to the Biocultural Corridors project, a long-term initiative by Giardino Forbito and the Urban Pollinators Community. Through the Journey of the Pioniera, pioneering plants, sculpture, and literature come together, culminating at the Botanical Garden of Turin.

The Balcone Fiorito contest encourages neighborhood participation with final awards at the Asproflor and Giardino Forbito stand. As always, Giardino Forbito will highlight exhibitors’ stories and specialties through social media content.

Security, cleaning, and activity support will be provided by Abdelrahman Elgendy, Alexandru Nastasa, and public utility workers from the UEPE project, underscoring the event’s commitment to social regeneration and inclusion.

Discover more here