Era di Maggio
The spring festival at the Botanical Garden of Rome, in Trastevere
About Era di Maggio
A spring festival in the greenery of Trastevere
Era di Maggio is the annual event that brings the Botanical Garden of Rome to life every May. This historic garden, which descends from the Gianicolo hill toward Trastevere in the city of Rome, becomes a stage for two days of discovery. The event features a widespread program of tours, workshops, meetings, and music, organized by Sens Eventi in collaboration with the Botanical Garden of the Sapienza University of Rome.
Admission to the event includes access to the entire Botanical Garden and all scheduled activities: visitors can follow a guided itinerary or simply wander among the blooms, fragrances, and city views, pausing wherever they feel inspired. This unique formula has made Era di Maggio one of the most beloved spring traditions for Romans.
A different theme for every edition
The festival never repeats itself: each year, a common thread runs through the program, giving it new meaning. Past editions have focused on rose and iris collections, the stories of extraordinary women linked to nature and science, and in 2026, the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis, with a multi-stage journey where the garden's plants tell the life story of the Saint of Assisi through tales, traditions, and imagery.
The theme is reflected in guided tours, exhibitions, and meetings with scholars and experts, taking the public beyond simple species identification: here, botany engages with art history, spirituality, literature, and craftsmanship.
Palazzo Corsini and the Corsiniana Library
One of the most precious elements of Era di Maggio is the special opening of areas within Palazzo Corsini, home to the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which borders the Botanical Garden. Some guided tours conclude here, amidst historic halls and the archives of the Corsiniana Library, where ancient manuscripts and volumes are displayed based on the year's theme. A rare opportunity for those who love Roman heritage off the beaten tourist track.
Children and families
Era di Maggio is designed for the little ones as well. The family program includes creative and sensory workshops, botanical treasure hunts along the garden paths, creative recycling activities to build flower crowns and collages with recycled paper, meetings on the world of bees and honey, and outdoor yoga classes on the lawns.
- Botanical treasure hunts along the garden paths
- Creative recycling and floral arrangement workshops
- Outdoor yoga for children
- Educational meetings on bees, pollinators, and biodiversity
- Sensory activities for the little ones
Music, herbs, and crafts
The weekend is punctuated by musical moments: over the years, concerts by students from the Liceo Musicale Farnesina, performances in the green spaces, and classical music appointments inside Palazzo Corsini have taken place. Alongside the music, there are seminars in the herbal area, with demonstrations on preparing medicinal oils, ointments, and syrups, as well as tea tastings and book presentations.
The Viale delle Cose Belle (Avenue of Beautiful Things) gathers high-quality botanical-themed craft exhibitors: ceramics, textiles, illustrations, perfumes, and small handmade objects, in a stroll that combines slow shopping with the discovery of artisanal trades.
Why it's worth visiting
Those who live in Rome know the Botanical Garden as a quiet refuge just steps from Piazza Trilussa; Era di Maggio reveals a different, more lively side of it, without losing its atmosphere. The combination of monumental greenery, views of the city, high-quality encounters, and the relaxed pace of the two days makes it one of the most successful spring events in the capital, suitable for a wide audience and especially for families.
Era di Maggio — edition 2026
Era di Maggio 2026: Walking with Francis
On May 9 and 10, 2026, the Botanical Garden of Rome hosted the new edition of Era di Maggio, dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. The route, titled Walking with Francis between the Botanical Garden and Palazzo Corsini, used the plant collections as a guide to rediscover the deep bond between man and nature, a central theme of Franciscan spirituality.
Guided tours concluded at Palazzo Corsini, where a precious 14th-century illuminated manuscript dedicated to the Saint was displayed in the archives of the Corsiniana Library, presented to the public by Professor Francesca Manzari. Alongside the main route, the event offered book presentations, tea tastings, meetings on monastic tradition, and herbal seminars on medicinal oils, ointments, and syrups, curated in collaboration with the Accademia delle Arti Erboristiche.
On the musical front, Saturday featured an exclusive concert inside Palazzo Corsini with the L'Incanto di Roma ensemble of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia performing Vivaldi's Stabat Mater, while students from the Liceo Musicale Farnesina performed throughout the two days. The Viale delle Cose Belle brought together exhibitors of high-quality botanical-themed crafts.
Children enjoyed sensory and creative recycling workshops, botanical treasure hunts, flower crown making, small collages with recycled paper, meetings on the world of bees, and outdoor yoga classes.
Programme Era di Maggio 2026
Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, 2026 - from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM)
- Thematic route: Walking with Francis between the Botanical Garden and Palazzo Corsini: a multi-stage walk among the garden's plants, with tales, traditions, stories, and images dedicated to the Saint of Assisi
- Guided tours of the Botanical Garden collections, some concluding at Palazzo Corsini
- Corsiniana Library: exhibition of a 14th-century illuminated manuscript dedicated to Saint Francis, presented by Prof. Francesca Manzari
- Saturday, May 9, Palazzo Corsini: concert by the L'Incanto di Roma ensemble of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Stabat Mater by Antonio Vivaldi
- Concerts by students of the Liceo Musicale Farnesina in the garden spaces
- Herbal area: seminars and demonstrations on medicinal oils, ointments, and syrups
- Book presentations, tea tastings, and meetings on monastic tradition
- Children's workshops: creative recycling, flower crowns, collages with recycled paper, sensory activities
- Botanical treasure hunt along the garden paths
- Workshops on bees and the world of pollinators
- Outdoor yoga for children
- Viale delle Cose Belle: market of high-quality botanical-themed crafts
Highlights Era di Maggio 2026
- The theme of the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi
- The 14th-century illuminated manuscript displayed in the Corsiniana Library
- Vivaldi's Stabat Mater at Palazzo Corsini with the L'Incanto di Roma ensemble (Accademia di Santa Cecilia)
- Extraordinary opening of Palazzo Corsini rooms
- Rich program of workshops and treasure hunts for children
- The Viale delle Cose Belle with botanical crafts
Prices Era di Maggio 2026
Practical information — Era di Maggio
Location
Botanical Garden of Rome, Largo Cristina di Svezia 23A-24, 00165 Rome, Trastevere district, at the foot of the Gianicolo hill.
How to get there
Tram: line 8, stop Trastevere/Min. Pubblica Istruzione, then a few minutes' walk through Piazza Trilussa and Via Corsini. Bus: lines 23 and 280 along the Lungotevere. Train: Roma Trastevere station, then tram 8. Car: not recommended; the area is a restricted traffic zone (ZTL) and parking is scarce. It is better to leave your car at park-and-ride lots and use public transport.
Hours and tickets
The event generally runs from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM, with last entry at 5:30 PM. The ticket includes access to the Botanical Garden and all scheduled activities; some guided tours and workshops require booking. Free entry for small children (up to two per accompanying adult) and people with disabilities.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes: the garden is on a slope and the paths are made of beaten earth and gravel. Bring a hat and water on sunny days. Pets are not allowed, according to the Botanical Garden's regulations. The event takes place even in light rain. Online pre-booking is recommended for sunny weekends.
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Where does it take place — Era di Maggio
Orto Botanico di Roma - Museo Orto Botanico, Sapienza Università di Roma
Largo Cristina di Svezia 23A-24, 00165 Roma