The patronal feast of San Giovanni is approaching, the occasion in which the city of Busto Arsizio pays homage to its most deserving citizens. This year, in addition to Thanksgiving Day, the program includes a week of events, including art, music, food (with the return of dinner in the square) and an in-depth look at the tradition of the water of San Giovanni. Grand finale on Thursday 27 June with Busto’s first white night.
«It’s the city’s celebration»
The most heartfelt moment remains that of Thanksgiving Day, scheduled in the park of Villa Ottolini-Tosi on Monday 24 June, on St. John’s Day, with the delivery of civic merit (which this year is up to the entrepreneur Giorgio Paglini) and awards to deserving citizens.
«It is the city’s celebration», underlines the mayor Emanuele Antonelli. Anticipating that during the mass in the Basilica of San Giovanni there will be “a celebration within the celebration”, since the ordination anniversaries of the former provost Monsignor Franco Agnesi (50 years old), of the provost emeritus monsignor Claudio Livetti and of Don Peppino Aldeni (70 years old).
«A very rich patronal – underlines the deputy mayor and councilor for culture Manuela Maffioli – with a week of celebrations for the patron saint and for the city, with a strong identity and cultural component».
Tomorrow the four will be installed in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele Moai sculptures created by Urbansolid artists. Then the events begin: Thursday 20 June returns dawn concert in the park of Villa Ottolini-Tosi on the occasion of the summer solstice. Great attention to tradition of the water of San Giovanniwith a series of activities promoted by Giuseppe Montalto’s Casa delle Erbe, including the water-trading ceremony scheduled for Sunday 23rd in Piazza Santa Maria.
And then the double highlight of Thursday 27th, with the San Giovanni dinner in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and the first white night in Bustocca. «An event that has been missing until today and which we hope will have a great response from young people and families», says Paolo Geminiani for the city center traders committee. But the calendar of initiatives is truly very rich, as demonstrated by the detailed program released by Palazzo Gilardoni which we publish below.
The program in chronological order
from June 13th to July 1st – Piazza Vittorio Emanuele
installation of four “MOAI” sculptures created by Urbansolid artists; event organized by the Cultural Association “TraccePerLaMeta”. This is a project of great cultural and social value, and of notable visual impact, which follows the “Get Out” project created by the same artists last 24 June: in view of the opening of the construction site for the redevelopment of the old prisons, they unrolled colored fabrics from the windows of the cells to symbolize the imminent rebirth of the building. The work remained on display throughout the summer until work began. This year Urbansolid will place 4 large glass resin sculptures in the square (they are another 3 metres) which depict the Moai of Easter Island, smeared like the walls or monuments of our cities, symbol of a civilization that destroyed its ecosystem, in order to stimulate the public to reflect on their interaction with the environment and urge a deeper awareness of our impact on the planet.
The sculptures were recently exhibited in April in Milan in the City Life spaces. From 1st to 15th July they will be transferred to four different locations in the city.
Thursday 20 June
6.00 am – Villa Ottolini-Tosi park
Concert at dawn organized by the Rossini Musical Association
On the occasion of the summer solstice, the magic of the dawn concert returns in the park of Villa Ottolini-Tosi, a welcome to summer with the melodies of the Celtic harp and the voice of Rossana Monico. At the end of the concert, breakfast will be offered.
Tickets (€10.00), available on oooh.events
from Friday 21st to Monday 24th June from 10am to midnight.
Textile Museum Park
Street Food a curated by the Arte 74 Association
The best traveling cuisines will be present: Tyrolean, Portuguese, Apulian, Oriental, Argentine, Sardinian, Roman, the best craft breweries, cocktails and much more. For the little ones, the best Tiramisumma desserts, World Champion of Tiramisu and sweets, lots of balloons and cotton candy. During the event, from 6pm to 8pm, there will be shows with street artists, jugglers, clowns, child painters and puppets. From 9pm to midnight live music, with Latin DJ sets and more, music from the 80s/90s up to the present day, Italian music and karaoke.
Saturday 22 June
– 6.00 pm – Civic Library, Sala Monaco
meeting: “Herbs, words and music” edited by CASA DELLE ERBE by GIUSEPPE MONTALTO
Interventions:
Herbs of Santa Ilegarda with Maria Sonia Baldoni, sibyl of herbs
The herbs of beauty with Giuseppe Montalto, herbalist and cosmetologist
Songs of wild herbs with Giustina Marta, flautist
The herbs and love of Paolo and Francesca with Andelon Curse, writer.
– 9.00 pm – Basilica San Giovanni
Celebratory Concert for the 50th Anniversary of the Laus Deo Choir (1974-2024)
Music by GP Palestrina, C. Monteverdi, WA Mozart, D. Buxtehude, J. Kuhnau
soprano: Diane Rama – mezzo-soprano: Chiara Guglielmi – tenor: Beniamino Paolo Borciani – bass: Filippo Maria Tuccimei.
Laus Deo choir and orchestra conducted by Gabriele Mara.
Sunday 23 June
– 9.00 am – 4.00 pm – La Cascinetta, Altomilanese Park
training day on the recognition of wild herbs with the “Tramando Ceremony” organized by CASA DELLE ERBE by GIUSEPPE MONTALTO, with Maria Sonia Baldoni, Sibilla delle Erbe, who teaches about them and is spokesperson for their presence in popular traditions
– 6.00 pm – Sanctuary of Santa Maria, Piazza Santa Maria
Concert “Sacred Love” – songs of wild herbs (helichrysum, poppy, yarrow, laurel, lavender, oregano) inspired by Saint Ildegard with Giustina Marta (solo flute), organized by CASA DELLE ERBE by GIUSEPPE MONTALTO – Free entry
– 7.15pm – Piazza Santa Maria
Ceremony of the Handing down of the Water of San Giovanni, edited by CASA DELLE ERBE by GIUSEPPE MONTALTO with Maria Sonia Baldoni and Giuseppe Montalto.
For info and reservations: 3483607115.
Monday 24 June
10.00 -12.00 Casa delle Erbe – Giuseppe Montalto via Palestro 14
Exhibition of historical herbariums of the province of Varese
Thursday 27 June
8.00 pm – Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II
St. John’s Supper organized by the municipal administration and the Commerce District with the collaboration of sponsors (Yogorè, Panificio Luraschi, Montalto Bio) and partners (Crespi Catering). Part of the menu will be buffet style with different thematic islands, part will be served at the table.
How to book: Adult menu €30 Children’s menu €20;
reservations no later than Thursday 20 June 2024 by bank transfer made out to:
Urban District of Commerce Association
IBAN: IT35G0840422800000000001406 Banca BCC – Busto Arsizio branch
reason: San Giovanni dinner, name and number of seats
Send the receipt of the bank transfer to the e-mail address [email protected] indicating the data for the receipt/invoice.
From 6.00 pm it will be possible to taste the cocktails of Bar is the name which will set up a pop-up in the courtyard of Palazzo Cicogna.
Musical entertainment by Duomania Band. “St. John’s Herbs” centerpiece offered by Montalto Bio. In case of rain the dinner will take place in the covered spaces of the square garden of the museum of textiles and industrial tradition – entrance from via Galvani
Guided tours
During the evening, guided visits to the Civic Art Collections of Palazzo Marliani Cicogna will be organized (open until 11.00 pm), organized by the Museum and Territorial Education Service. The visits are organized in shifts, starting at 6.30pm and 9.30pm and lasting approximately one hour.
Participation is free, with reservations required, subject to availability (max 25 people per group), to be made via the following links
– guided tour with starts at 6.30pm: https://affluences.com/comune-di-busto-rsizio/civiche-raccolte-darte/reservation?type=21&date=2024-06-27
– guided tour with starts at 9.30pm: https://affluences.com/comune-di-busto-rsizio/civiche-raccolte-darte/reservation?type=21&date=2024-06-27&resource=118146
The meeting with the guide will be at the reception on the first floor of the museum, a few minutes before the departure of the booked visit.
Thursday 27 June
from 9.00 pm
White Night
Summer 2024 opens with something new: the First White Night of Busto Arsizio, organized by the City Center Merchants Committee, in collaboration with the Urban Commerce District and with the patronage of Ascom, as part of the BA Summer calendar coordinated by Municipal administration.
