COUNTRYSIDE WITHIN THE WALLS

2008, 17th of April and 4th of May

This year the event became bi-annual, in response to the overwhelming number of visitors in former years. Specific events from earlier visits were again repeated, with the addition of a photographic show, The Gardens of Kolymbetra: from landscape restoration to cultural tourism, curated by FAI, and an exhibition of antique agricultural tools and domestic utensils preserved from the old stables of the Villa Sermolli. Collaborating once again were the Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo “Sismondi” of Pescia, the Istituto Alberghiero “Martini” of Montecatini Terme, the Associazione “I Montagnardi,” the Pubblica Assistenza Avis of Borgo a Buggiano, the Croce Rossa, the Nucleo Protezione civile of Buggiano, along with the Accademia musicale “Leoncavallo” of Montecatini Terme, and the Istituto musicale “Boccherini” of Lucca.
Supporting the event were the municipality of Buggiano, the COOP Valdinievole, the nurseries of Oscar Tintori, the firm of Salpi Piumini with the patronage of the Region of Tuscany, the Province of Pistoia, APT of Montecatini-Valdinievole and FAI, Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano.

2006, 30 April and 7 May

the number of gardens open to the public grew this year from twelve to fourteen, and followed the same pattern of previous Open Houses, with the display of ornamental citrus from the collection of Oscar Tintori in the cloister of the Benedictine cloister. Collaborating again were the Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo “Sismondi” of Pescia, the Istituto Alberghiero “Martini” of Montecatini Terme, the Associazione per la Pace “Irene” of Pescia, the Pubblica Assistenza Avis of Borgo a Buggiano. Additional collaborators this year included the Croce Rossa (Red Cross), the Nucleo Protezione civile of Buggiano and the Scuola di musica of Lucca. The event was sponsored by the municipality of Buggiano, the Oscar Tintori Vivaio and the firm Salpi Piumini of Buggiano, and was under the patronage of the Region of Tuscany, the Province of Pistoia, and APT of Montecatini-Valdinievole.
Proceeds went to the restoration and conservation of the old stone pavement in the medieval Piazza Pretorio of Buggiano Castello.

2003, 27th April and 4th of May

This year’s opening event was a gathering to discuss A Proposal to renovate the Cloister and Abbey of Santa Maria in Buggiano Castello, with a report by the architect Barbara Giannessi. Participating were Giancarlo Panconesi, president of the Cultural Association of Buggiano Castello, Father Franco Sbrolli, parish priest of Buggiano, Alfio Pellegrini, mayor of Buggiano, Luigi Giorgetti, cultural minister of the Province of Pistoia, Valerio Tesi of the Sovrintendenza ai Beni Ambientale, and the coordinator of the event, Giuseppe Franchi. Within the cloister, there was again an exhibit of ornamental citrus from the collections of the nursery Oscar Tintori, as well as a citrus market held at the Porta Sermolli. Again, the Tintori nursery offered a demonstration of citrus cultivation in the Piazza Pretorio. Collaborating with the event were the Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo “Sismondi” of Pescia, the Istituto Alberghiero “Martini” of Montecatini Terme, the associazione “I Montagnardi” and the Pubblica Assistenza Avis of Borgo a Buggiano,.” Joining them this year was the Associazione per la pace “Irene” of Pescia. The occasion was sponsored by the municipality of Buggiano, the Province of Pistoia, APT of Montecatini-Valdinievole and was under the patronage of the Region of Tuscany, the Accademia dei Georgofili, UGAI (Garden Clubs of Italy), and AGI (Garden Association of Italy).
Monies earned from the Open Gardens this year went toward the restoration of the cloister of the Abbey of Santa Maria, reputed to be the work of Andrea Cavalcanti, known as il Buggiano, the adopted son and student of Brunelleschi. Once restored, the cloister will become a “cloister of orange plants,” a quiet place to pause while following the itinerary of Buggiano’s open gardens.

2000, May 6-7 and 13-14

The spring event was expanded to four days in May, and the number of private gardens open to visitors grew as well. The visit included a short detour to Villa Bellavista in Borgo a Buggiano, where the techniques of ornamental citrus cultivation were presented by the Oscar Tintori citrus nursery. An exhibition of potted lemon trees was held at the nearby cloister of the Convent of Santa Maria in Selva. The program began with two papers given by Santo Recupero, researcher of the Istituto Sperimentale di Agrumicoltura of Acireale, and Paolo Galeotti, curator of the magnificent citrus gardens of Villa Castello in Florence. This was followed by the presentation of the book, Gli Agrumi Ornamentali: Advice from farmer/gardeners, by Giorgio and Sergio Tintori (Calderini Edagricole editor). Also participating were Giancarlo Panconesi, president of the Cultural Association of Buggiano Castello, Alfio Pellegrini, mayor of Buggiano, Luigi Giorgetti, cultural minister of the Province of Pistoia, Fiorenzo Mancini, vice president of the Accademia dei Georgofili and the coordinator of the event, Giuseppe Franchi. In the cloister of the old Benedictine abbey of Buggiano Castello, one could again view an exhibition of citrus from the collection of Oscar Tintori; the nursery also demonstrated techniques of citrus plant cultivation in the Piazza Pretorio, and sold plants to the public at the Porta Sermolli at the entrance to the village.
Collaborating sponsors of the event included the Public Library of Buggiano, the Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo “Sismondi” in Pescia, The Istituto Alberghiero “Martini” of Montecatini Terme, The Associazione “I Montagnardi,” Legambiente Valdinievole, Pubblica Assistenza Avis of Borgo a Buggiano. It was supported as well by the Buggiano municipality, the Province of Pistoia, APT of Montecatini-Valdinievole, and came under the patronage of the Region of Tuscany, the Istituto Sperimentale di Agrumicoltura di Acireale, and the Centro Studi dei Giardini Storici e Contemporanei di Pietrasanta in the province of Lucca. Proceeds from the event went toward the reconstruction of the ancient Clock Tower of Buggiano Castello.

1997, September 13-14

The first garden event opened with the official designation of Buggiano Castello as a museum space of mixed citrus, vegetable and flower gardens, and a round table discussion on the theme: THE COUNTRYSIDE WITHIN THE WALLS: Analyzing and Evaluating Private and Public Green Spaces of Medieval Villages. Participating in the discussion were Professor Giuseppe Franchi, originator and curator of the event, Professor Giorgio Pizziolo of the Atelier del paesaggio mediterraneo Villa Sismondi in nearby Pescia; Architect Domenico Luciani of the Fondazione Benetton; Architect Maria Adriana Giusti of the Soprintendenza B.A.A.A.S. of Pisa, Eliana Ferioli of the magazine “Gardenia,” Terese Salomoni of the magazine “Il Giardino Fiorito,” and Stefano Mengoli, the project director of Buggiano Castello as a museum. Visitors to the local gardens could also view an exhibition of citrus from the vast collection of the nursery Oscar Tintori. The first catalogue of gardens was published by the Cultural Association of Buggiano Castello, together with the Municipal Library and edited by Alisea, the center for environmental, gardening and landscape research. The Region of Tuscany lent its patronage, as did the Accademia dei Georgofili, the communities of the Valdinievole, the chamber of commerce of Pistoia, and the Fondazione Nazionale “Carlo Collodi.” The Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo “Sismondi” of Pescia and Legambiente Valdinievole also collaborated.
The response that first year, with more than 2,000 visitors on a single day, enabled the Cultural Association of Buggiano Castello to begin restoration of the chapel of San Stefano in Campioni.