VISIT

Thanks to beekeeper Michele Contini, Horti benefit from the presence of bees. Bees are very important pollinating insects and around 70% of food crops and 90% of wild plants depend on their daily work. In each hive, around the queen bee, there are about 50,000 bees, all females apart from the kelp, which is very fundamental for ventilating the hive and fertilising the queen, who, unlike worker bees, is fed royal jelly. The intensive work of each hive produces 20 to 60 kg of honey more than it needs.

The new and conspicuous tree planting recreates a special habitat, producing the 'woodland edge' effect, ideal for the enhancement and protection of biodiversity, nesting and reproduction of bird species. Shade/light zones with different temperatures and humidity levels are created in this habitat, which respond favourably to the needs of flora and fauna. The traffic and noise pollution of Viale Lungo Ticino Sforza are shielded and visitors find themselves immersed in a naturalistic oasis.

The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a coraciform bird of the Alcedinidae family. It is small, between 17 and 25 cm long, with a wingspan of up to 26 cm. It nests on slow-flowing rivers and streams and on the banks of lakes. The back is blue with green iridescence on the head, wings and tail, while the chest and belly are orange-brown. Its flight is close to the water, very fast and short, and characteristic is the 'holy spirit' flight to observe the presence of prey (small fish and crustaceans) in the water, before they dive in.

In  Horti, the vital element of water is very much present. The pond has an average depth of 80 cm, the water is turbid and its velocity is almost zero. Some fish species live in this habitat, mainly of the Cyprinidae family such as carp. Mallards and moorhens nest along the banks. Commonly one will see grey and white herons, night herons, white storks and kingfishers at the sight.

The lake habitat is larger and deeper, thus with a lower temperature, than the pond and is supplied by a stream that secures the current. Trout and bleak can be seen here. Along its banks there are many varieties of marsh plants that sink their roots into the water with a purification function and are suitable breeding grounds for frogs and toads that attract wetland-dependent bird species such as the grey and white heron, night heron, white stork and egret.

In the herb garden, aromatic plants with different flowering periods are planted. In addition to being pleasant and stimulating, the scents we perceive have an important biological function: they defend plants from phytophagous insects and herbivores and attract pollinating insects. Walking among the plants, it is suggested that visitors gently stroke the leaves to  smell the scent and have a unique sensory experience.

The main route through the park from south to north, called 'cardo' according to ancient Roman terminology, connects the buildings and main areas in Horti. From the entrance, the bistrot, the archaeological excavation of the church of San Marco in Monte Bertone, and the extra Art space follow one another on the right side. The path is lined on both sides by crops of small fruits that mark the path and attract insects and birds, which are fond of the nectar of the flowers and fruits. Among the small fruits are ribes, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and gooseberries. Visitors can pick them and enjoy them.

The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a very large wader, reaching a height of about 100 cm and a wingspan of about 180 cm. Its plumage is white, the remigrant and rudder feathers are black. It has long, thin legs and a very long, thick beak, both orange-red in colour. Males are slightly larger than females. A tireless traveller, the white stork is widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa. Thanks to the dedication of Harry Salamon and his wife Antonia, founders of the Sant'Alessio Oasis a few kilometres from Horti, today the white stork also nests in Lombardy and Piedmont.

Some of Horti's areas are sown with the most suitable essences to attract bees, butterflies and pollinating insects, which are essential for maintaining biodiversity. The variety of seeds depends on exposure, sun/shade ratio and soil conditions. Flowering for some essences reaches up to 100/150 cm above the ground. By choice, the growth of this lawn is left free.

Insects play an important role in our ecosystem: they enable the pollination of flowers and vegetables and help defend the earth from other harmful insects. The insect house is an artificial environment composed of different materials, designed to accommodate these beneficial little guests in Horti. Reeds, pieces of bark, straw, pine cones and wooden logs are the elements that compose it. The quarters are mainly occupied in winter and serve as shelter and protection for the colder season.

Trees with cavities hollowed out by woodpeckers are of great importance for the biodiversity of forest ecosystems as they allow the reproduction of their own species but also of numerous 'host' species, because the holes hollowed out in the trunks provide nesting and shelter opportunities for many other birds, small mammals and social hymenoptera, including wild bees. In addition, these cavities can be used for food supplies and provide a water reserve for many animals at all times of the year. For these reasons, woodpeckers are also referred to as 'ecological engineers'.

The Collegio Borromeo, founded by Carlo Borromeo in 1561, has always hosted university students. The building, designed and built by architect Pellegrino Tibaldi, encloses a large square court, a 17th-century Italian-style garden with a large fountain inside a niche. The Hall of Frescos houses the first monumental pictorial cycle dedicated to St. Charles and commissioned by Federico Borromeo, the College's first pupil and patron. The campus is now completed by the Graduate Section and the Modern Palace (2009).

The church of San Marco in Monte Bertone, the foundation of which dates back to 1174, was purchased by the Almo Collegio Borromeo in 1821 and later demolished to make way for crops and related structures. In 2017, geophysical surveys were carried out that revealed traces of the building. The state of preservation of the remains, despite the demolitions, justified an archaeological exploration, also conceived as a didactic experience for university students, which is still ongoing.

To the north part of Horti, the 'Pio Luogo Pertusati' building was constructed in the 1750s, thanks to a testamentary bequest of the Bishop of Pavia, Francesco Pertusati. The building, intended to house needy people, opened in 1759. Purchased in 1823 by the Borromeo College with the surrounding land, it is currently home to the 'Graduate Section'. The structure includes an internal portico with Doric granite columns on the ground floor and an open gallery on the upper floor. The adjacent church, now deconsecrated, has been redeveloped as a multi-purpose hall for the Horti. 

This three-storey building 17th-century construction was purchased by the Collegio in the early 19th century and was kept for agricultural purposes. Radically renovated in 2007, it now houses the Horti bistrot. The venue is managed by Planeat.eco, which promotes and disseminates sustainable economic and social models and systems, aspiring to generate widespread value. Horti's ethical choice also includes outdoor furniture made from extruded profiles of regenerated PVC foam derived from waste plastics and wood flour.

In this small double-chambered wall structure attached to the boundary wall of the garden of the Capuchin Fathers' convent, demolished in the 19th century, water from the moat of the Visconti Castle flowed into the various channels, to irrigate vegetable gardens and orchards, and from here it reached the boundary wall of the 17th-century garden of the College, feeding the fountain inserted in the niche. Today, the divider represents the spring from which the stream that irrigates the pond originates.

The area between the old brick wall and the north-eastern boundary in Horti is morphologically different from the rest of the park. The trees are thicker, the sun's rays penetrate with difficulty and a stream winds its way through the unevenness of the terrain. A number of artificial nests and feeders have been placed in the branches of the trees, providing shelter and food for various species of birds, especially in the winter months. One has the feeling of crossing a threshold and entering a real community with indissoluble ties: the so-called 'community of trees' as defined by Stefano Mancuso.

Come visit us at out infopoint. Every Saturday and Sunday, from 10.00 until sunset.

The stream is about 145 m long. It gushes out at the northernmost point in Horti, at the ancient water divider that also supplied the College. It runs through the most wooded area and crosses it from north to south, adapting to the orography of the terrain. Three intermediate pools control the flow of water. They are of different depths to provide ideal breeding places for insects and amphibians. A pumping system ensures continuous recirculation of the water and avoids unnecessary waste.