Friday 14 March | National Landscape Day

SPECIAL GUIDED TOUR OF THE VILLA ARCONATI GARDEN

On Friday 14 March at 3:00 pm, on the occasion of the National Landscape Day 2025 promoted by the MIC – Ministry of Culture, the Augusto Rancilio Foundation is organizing a guided tour to discover the wonders of the monumental Garden of Villa Arconati.

A walk, accompanied by the FAR guides, to enjoy the charm of the Garden ready for the arrival of spring with the sounds, colors, and scents of nature, like the noble Guests visiting the Arconati family in the eighteenth century.

The tour route:

We will discover the richest environments from a historical-artistic and architectural point of view of the Italian garden, such as the theaters dedicated to classical myths, time and the Seasons, up to the parterre, one of the very few “French” gardens in Lombardy.

The visit will also allow visitors to discover the environments that in the two-year period 2023-2024 were affected by the restoration interventions financed by the winning of the PNRR call for proposals of the European Union, aimed at regenerating and redeveloping Italian parks and gardens of cultural interest.

The guided tour, lasting about an hour, winds along a route of about 1 km of gravel and beaten earth paths, only partially accessible to people with reduced mobility.

The activity will take place almost exclusively outdoors, as it will involve a large part of the Garden of Villa Arconati; however, some areas of the Palace that are usually not open to visitors during guided tours will also be exceptionally open to visitors.

At the end of the visit, participants will not be able to remain inside the Garden.

Villa Arconati will reopen to the public with the usual Sunday openings, during which it will be possible to visit both the Palace and the Garden starting from Sunday 23 March 2025. Holders of the ticket for the special guided tour of the Garden will be entitled to a reduced entrance fee on Sundays.

A WALK IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN OF VILLA ARCONATI

Guided tour

Friday 14 March at 3:00 pm

Duration: approximately 60 minutes

Cost € 10.00 per person

Limited places

Online booking is recommended at www.villaarconati-far.it

NOTE:

The tour route is approximately 1 km on gravel and dirt paths, poorly accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Outdoor activity, which will take place even in case of rain. Should weather conditions occur that are deemed dangerous for the safety of Visitors, they will be promptly informed and tickets will be refunded.

Following the guided tour, Participants will NOT be allowed to remain inside the Garden.

VILLA ARCONATI – WINNER OF THE PNRR CALL FOR HISTORIC PARKS AND GARDENS

The historic Garden of Villa Arconati, with the Castellazzo lands, is one of the 134 winning places of the MIC Call financed by the PNRR for the restoration and enhancement of Historic Parks and Gardens. The Garden of Villa Arconati, the only winner in the entire Province of Milan, obtained the maximum amount that can be financed by the call, i.e. 2 million euros.

The PNRR call

The call, funded by the European Union, aimed to regenerate and redevelop Italian parks and gardens of cultural interest, raising their management, maintenance, safety and hospitality standards, and to ensure their best conservation over time, with a view to sustainability and resilience.

Through the works carried out, it was possible to strengthen the identity of the places, improve the landscape quality, the quality of life and the psychophysical well-being of citizens, creating new hubs and methods of cultural and tourist use that generate positive effects on the economic development of the reference territory and on employment, with particular attention to youth employment.

Through the actions promoted in the call, the environmental values ​​that the PNRR has chosen as a guide have been strengthened, encouraging the development of functions that have direct and positive environmental impacts: reduction of pollution, regulation of the microclimate, generation of oxygen, protection of biodiversity.

Historic gardens and parks will henceforth be seen as a resource in terms of scientific, technical, botanical and environmental knowledge that has been developed, experimented and sedimented over the centuries.

SPECIAL GARDEN VISITS DURING THE WEEK:

A guided walk in which to enjoy the atmosphere of the Garden, which still retains intact the spirit in which it was built. The route, with an indicative duration of 75 min provides the main historical-artistic information about the Garden and its constituent elements, it also illustrates the current restoration project - financed by the PNRR call - and the objectives expected for the future. The activity will take place mainly outdoors, as it will involve more of the Villa Arconati Garden. Starting this year, for the first time, visitation will also allow access to the Museum Room*. (*in case of special events/shooting the visit route may be subject to change). Prices: Single ticket €10; Free up to 10 years old. Retaining this ticket entitles you to purchase the Reduced on Sunday Public Opening.

ORGANIZED GROUPS:

We host organized groups and school groups every day of the year, by reservation. For information on guided tours and customized services you can email info@fondazioneaugustorancilio.com, or call 02 350 22 17.

SUNDAY PUBLIC OPENING

• Allows access to all areas of the Villa and Monumental Garden-without the support of our Guides-to experience the whole day like the noble guests of the time. Admission is available every Sunday*, from March 23 to December 14, from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm (last admission 6:00 pm). (*During special events, access arrangements may be subject to change). Prices: full ticket € 11.00; Reduced Ticket € 8.00 (children from 11 to 17 years old, people with disabilities, Villa Litta, Biblioteca Ambrosiana or Villa Arconati Garden Special Guided Tour ticket holders); Free up to 10 years old and accompanying people of people with disabilities.

• In addition to access to all the interior and exterior rooms, it includes a tour of an indicative duration of 90min - accompanied by our volunteer Guides - that introduces the ancient Owners and the works that saw the medieval Castellazzo become Villa Arconati, and then continues in the Monumental Garden. Admission is available every Sunday*, from March 23 to December 14, from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm (last admission 6:00 pm), approximate visiting shifts: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm (*During special events, visiting times may be subject to change). Prices: full ticket € 16.00; Reduced Ticket € 13.00 (children from 11 to 17 years old, people with disabilities, Villa Litta, Biblioteca Ambrosiana or Villa Arconati Garden Special Guided Tour ticket holders); Free for children up to 10 years old and companions of people with disabilities.

• The FAR Pass allows you access to the interior and exterior spaces of the Villa - as many times as you want - on the days when the Villa is open to the public, and you also become a true supporter of the Foundation. You will enter without queuing up, even if it's just for a walk in the Garden to discover the Theaters and Fountains, to enjoy an aperitif in our Goldoni Café, or to meet your friends in the splendid rooms of the Villa, and-when you want-you can participate in the guided tour by paying only an additional fee of € 6. The FAR Pass is on sale at the promotional price of € 35 (Access valid for the entire year of issue).