Viriditas – Wild Herb Recognition and Wellness

An Immersion into the Wild Herbs of the Bolognese Apennines

Viriditas – Wild Herb Recognition and Wellness is a nature event that takes place in Grizzana Morandi, a small municipality in the Metropolitan City of Bologna nestled in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines. Designed as a weekend of slow learning and sharing, it offers two days dedicated to recognizing wild herbs, wellness through nature, and rediscovering the traditional knowledge of the area.

Between the Sanctuary of Montovolo and the Cati Mill

The event unfolds in two evocative locations within the territory of Grizzana Morandi. The first day takes place in the park of the Sanctuary of Montovolo, one of the oldest and most fascinating reliefs in the Bolognese Apennines, an area of great natural and spiritual value. The second day moves to the Cati Mill, in the hamlet of Ponte di Verzuno, an ancient mill surrounded by woods, and to the nearby Cesare Mattei Museum, linked to the figure of Count Cesare Mattei, inventor of the famous 19th-century electropathy and a profound connoisseur of herbs.

What to Expect

• Guided walks for recognizing wild, edible, and dyeing herbs
• Insights into the theme of "food as medicine" and phytolinguistics
• Cataloging local flora with experts
• A natural dyeing and eco-print workshop to learn how to color fabrics with plants
• The guided tour "The Count's Herbs" at the Cesare Mattei Museum
• A nature walk with musical accompaniment on the handpan
• Convivial moments, such as a shared lunch and a final closing circle

A Human-Scale Event

Viriditas is an intimate, limited-capacity experience that prioritizes the quality of encounters and direct contact with nature over mass tourism. It is aimed at those who wish to approach the world of wild herbs, enthusiasts of botany, phytotherapy, and natural dyeing, but also at those simply seeking a regenerating weekend in the woods of the Grizzana Morandi Apennines, far from conventional tourism.