Cervia City Garden
Europe's largest outdoor floral art exhibition
About Cervia City Garden
A City That Blooms Every Summer
Every year, from May to September, the Municipality of Cervia (Province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna) dresses up for the occasion with Cervia Città Giardino, considered Europe's largest outdoor floral art exhibition. Established in 1972, the event transforms roundabouts, flowerbeds, gardens, and public spaces in the four localities of the territory — Cervia, Milano Marittima, Pinarella, and Tagliata — into true plant-based works of art, created by green technicians, gardeners, and masters from Italian and foreign cities.
Record Numbers
During May, over 60 delegations from cities, companies, schools, and associations, both Italian and international, arrive in Cervia to set up the public spaces. More than 350,000 plants and flowers are planted, along with thousands of square meters of lawns, plant sculptures, figures, and geometric designs that remain on display throughout the summer season, maintained by the Municipality's green services.
A Partnership Between Art and Green Diplomacy
The event is a benchmark for landscape architects and green professionals from all over Europe and Canada. Each edition involves foreign delegations who bring their own gardening style to the city, fostering an international dialogue of flowers and ideas. Among the recurring participants are Canadian cities linked to Cervia by the memory of the Liberation on October 22, 1944, when Canadian armed forces liberated the city.
Not Just Flowers
In addition to floral arrangements, the summer of Cervia Città Giardino is marked by numerous collateral initiatives: photographic exhibitions, meditative walks in the pine forest, botanical guided tours, workshops for children, readings, and ecological walks. The highlight of the preview is Verde Mercato, the large market exhibition dedicated to plants, flowers, nurseries, and natural products that enlivens the historic center and Viale Roma, with meetings with green experts, show cooking, music, and performances.
Why Visit
Cervia Città Giardino is an invitation to discover the Romagna Riviera with a different perspective: strolling through the roundabouts and gardens, you traverse an open-air museum, free and accessible to all, which changes its appearance each year following a different theme. An experience that combines a seaside vacation with the beauty of botanical art.
Cervia City Garden — edition 2026
2026 Edition — "Flowers of Freedom, Roots of Hope"
The 54th edition of Cervia Città Giardino celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic, choosing "Flowers of Freedom, Roots of Hope" as its central theme, embodying values of peace, freedom, fraternity, and democracy. Over 60 Italian and international delegations, representing more than twelve countries, have transformed the public spaces of the four localities into floral works of art. Among the symbolic events of the year are the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the twinning between Cervia and the Polish city of Jelenia Góra, and the presence of three Canadian delegations (Maple Ridge, Stratford, and Yarmouth), linked to the memory of the Liberation on October 22, 1944.
Programme Cervia City Garden 2026
Preview — May 22-24, 2026: Verde Mercato
In the heart of Cervia, between the historic center and Viale Roma, the grand market exhibition dedicated to nature: plants, flowers, nurseries, artisanal creations, meetings with green experts, music, and show cooking.
Inauguration — Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Official presentation to the city of the excellent work created by the participating delegations during May, with a ceremony at the Darsena del Sale.
May to September — Displays and Collateral Events
- Photographic exhibition "Cervia's Gardens" curated by Gianni Castellani
- Meditative walks in the pine forest
- Botanical guided tours and tours of ancient fruits
- Readings at the library and workshops for children
- Ecological walks in the Bosco del Duca d'Altemps
Closing — October 18-19, 2026
Concluding event with the "Verde Mercato Autunno" (Autumn Green Market) exhibition of plants and flowers in the historic center of Cervia.
Highlights Cervia City Garden 2026
Prices Cervia City Garden 2026
Practical information — Cervia City Garden
How to Get Here
By car: A14 motorway, exit Cesena or Ravenna, then E55 expressway towards Cervia. By train: Cervia-Milano Marittima station on the Ferrara-Rimini line. By plane: airports of Bologna, Rimini, and Forlì.
When and Where
The floral arrangements are visible from May to September along the roundabouts, gardens, and public spaces of Cervia, Milano Marittima, Pinarella, and Tagliata. The Verde Mercato preview takes place in the historic center and along Viale Roma.
Admission
Admission to the floral displays is completely free. Many collateral events (workshops, walks, guided tours) are free or require booking.
Information
Municipality of Cervia and Cervia Turismo. Email: [email protected]. Website: cerviacittagiardino.it.
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Where does it take place — Cervia City Garden
Rotonde, giardini e spazi pubblici di Cervia, Milano Marittima, Pinarella e Tagliata