The city of Pisa turns green and, from 17 to 19 April 2026, hosts “VerdePisa” throughout the streets and squares of the historic centre, an event dedicated to the world of floriculture and greenery in all its forms, with a completely renewed format. The initiative is organised and promoted by the Municipality of Pisa and Pisamo together with FZ Group, in collaboration with Confcommercio Pisa and Coldiretti Pisa, and will offer a widespread exhibition route featuring exhibitors from all over Italy.

Potted and cut flowers, ornamental and fruit plants, succulents, exotic outdoor species, gardening and vegetable garden products will create a floral itinerary crossing some of the city’s most evocative places: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Corso Italia, Piazza XX Settembre, the Logge di Banchi, Ponte di Mezzo, Piazza Garibaldi, Largo Ciro Menotti, Borgo Stretto and Via Oberdan.

The event will also offer ideas and solutions for green care, energy saving and environmental sustainability, with the opportunity to meet nursery growers and experts in the field. At the heart of the event, in the Logge di Banchi, the Meetings and Workshops area will be set up, featuring book presentations, entertainment activities and workshops for children and adults.

Among the guests will be Monica Botta, Laura Gatti, Stefania De Pascale, Francesco and Andrea Mati, Paolo Galli, Lorenzo Peruzzi and Damiano Remorini, who will address topics related to urban greenery, landscape, sustainability and the relationship between nature and the city. The meetings area will also host a bookshop curated by Libreria Pellegrini, with publications dedicated to the theme of greenery.

The workshops will be organised in collaboration with the Fondazione Carta Etica del Packaging and with LEGO Natura for children. Demonstrations dedicated to the art of bonsai, kokedama and terrarium creation are also scheduled.

On Saturday morning there will be a guided tour entitled “Discovering Spontaneous Urban Flora”, led by Professor Lorenzo Peruzzi, Director of the Botanical Garden of Pisa.

On Saturday at 12:00 noon, the exhibition “A Flower a Day. Images for the Gardenia Diary” will be inaugurated at the Museum of Graphics at Palazzo Lanfranchi, in the presence of painter Maria Rita Stirpe, museum director Alessandro Tosi and Lorenzo Peruzzi. The exhibition can be visited free of charge from 18 April to 18 May, according to museum opening hours. One of the most authoritative interpreters of contemporary botanical painting, Maria Rita Stirpe has been carrying out teaching activities throughout Italy for years. The works on display are taken from the Gardenia Diary 2026 and created by the artist and the students of her widespread school. The Municipal Atrium will also host an exhibition dedicated to the art of bonsai and suiseki.

The iconic installations are curated by AFFI – Italian Flowers, Excellence of National Producers and Mati 1909 – Plants, Gardens, Flavours and Culture of Greenery. The event is supported by the Botanical Garden and Museum of the University of Pisa, the University Museum System and the Accademia dei Georgofili. Admission is free along the entire exhibition route and for all activities in the Meetings and Workshops area.

Full Programme

The workshops and meetings will take place at the Logge di Banchi.

Friday 17 April

14:00 – Opening of exhibition stands
17:30 – Opening ceremony and institutional greetings
19:00 – Organic aperitif
20:00 – Closing of exhibition stands

Saturday 18 April

10:00 – Opening of exhibition stands

Meetings Area

11:00 – Discovering Spontaneous Urban Flora, guided tour with Lorenzo Peruzzi, Director of the Botanical Garden of Pisa
12:00 – The Art of Painting Plants, with Alessandro Tosi, Lorenzo Peruzzi and Maria Rita Stirpe

To follow: inauguration of the exhibition “A Flower a Day”. Images for the Gardenia Diary

15:00 – Francesco Mati, The Sustainable Garden. The Gentle Revolution in the Contemporary Garden
16:00 – Lorenzo Peruzzi, Urban Biodiversity: Towards a Conscious Use of Native Species in Urban Green Areas
17:00 – Laura Gatti, Growing Trees on Buildings
18:00 – Monica Botta, Urban Health and Healing Gardens: Life and Well-being in Nature

Workshops Area

12:00 – Fondazione Carta Etica del Packaging, Packaging: What a Fantastic Adventure! Sustainability through the Creative Recycling of Materials
15:00 – Leonardo Zinna, SOS Bonsai
16:00 – Garden Eco Poggio Fiorito, The Art of Kokedama and Terrariums
20:00 – Closing of exhibition stands

Sunday 19 April

10:00 – Opening of exhibition stands

Meetings Area

15:00 – Stefania De Pascale, Planting Potatoes on Mars. The Long Journey of Agriculture
16:00 – Paolo Galli, Living According to Nature
17:00 – Andrea Mati, Healing with Greenery
18:00 – Damiano Remorini, The Role of Trees in Adapting to and Mitigating Climate Change

Workshops Area

From 10:00 to 20:00 – Orange Team LEGO nature-themed activity, Discover and Build Nature
11:00 – Fondazione Carta Etica del Packaging, Packaging: What a Fantastic Adventure! Sustainability through the Creative Recycling of Materials
16:00 – Leonardo Zinna, How to Prepare a Bonsai
20:00 – Closing of exhibition stands

Exhibitions and Initiatives

Municipal Atrium (Palazzo Gambacorti)

Continuous exhibition
09:00–19:00 – Arte Bonsai Pisa, Bonsai and Suiseki Exhibition, curated by Leonardo Zinna

Botanical Garden
08:30–19:00 – Reduced admission €3

Museum of Graphics
From 18 April to 18 May
Exhibition A Flower a Day. Images for the Gardenia Diary
Free admission

Iconic installations and floral demonstrations curated by AFFI – Italian Flowers and Mati 1909

Bookshop

Curated by Libreria Pellegrini Pisa
Saturday 18 April from 15:00 to 20:00
Sunday 19 April from 15:00 to 20:00