From the 29th to 31st May, The Landmark Trust is promoting an initiative aimed at refocusing the attention on the silk world and mori-sericulture, with the collaboration of CREA of Padova
“The silkworms come back to the Villa” is the title of the initiative that the Landmark Trust decided to host at Saraceno Villa (Via Finale,8 – Agugliaro, Vicenza) from 29th to 31st May 2018.
This project of the Landmark has the objective of involving and promoting the debate among the agricultural, production, institutional, academic worlds and least but not last, the territory schools, in addition to the local community. It is also aimed at preserving not only the architectonic heritage, the landscape and the cultural and agricultural tradition, through action of information about the territory, its characteristics, history and changes.
Furthermore, it aims at enriching and growing consciousness in local people, offering training to young students.
The history of Saraceno Villa is strictly linked to the silk world and to mori-sericulture as its owner, Biagio Saraceno, at the half of the 16th century, was an active silk merchant; the Villa was a rearing place for silkworms in addition to being a representative seat for his business.
Even nowadays we can see the traces of this story in the first floor of the open barn, – where during the event the silkworms will be brought again, and in the mulberry plants still present in the holding.
The whole Vicenza province, starting from the 16th century, was an excellent centre for production of silk, which was subsequently sold in the markets across Europe. Thus, this kind of activity was integrating part of the income of many families of the Southern part of the Vicenza territory, until the beginning of the last century. This was demonstrated by the research carried out at the Palladium museum an active partner in the project.
Thanks to the precious collaboration of CREA- Research Centre of Agriculture and Environment, sericulture laboratory and of Secondary Technical School of Agriculture “Trentin” of Lonigo (VI), a small silkworm rearing was created again; some University professors and experts publicly presented this kind of activity mostly under the historic, but even economic, agricultural and decorative profile.
Furthermore, through the project funded by the Venetian Region’s Plan of Agricultural Development SERINNOVATION, the CREA of Padova illustrated the perspectives of the relaunch of a production chain 100% made in Italy.
School students could visit the Villa and the rearing and participated to the educational labs during the days 30th and 31st May, while the two afternoons were dedicated to scientific communication to representatives of the agricultural, institutional, academic and touristic world, who were invited to participate.
Among the speakers of the conference “Precious Trees”: Dr. Silvia Cappellozza of CREA-AA of Padova was there with the presentation ”Sericulture in the Venetian Region: the project SERINNOVATION and the restoration of the silk production chain in Italy”; Prof. Federica Sandrelli of the University of Padova, described the partnership of CREA within the European project “Cinchron” (Comparative Insect Chronobiology) in the framework of the programme Marie Sklodowska Curie – Innovative Training Network with a presentation entitled: “From the basic to the applied research: role of the circadian clock in the sensitiveness to the silkworm infections“; Dr. Andrea Strano took also part, introducing the new brand “Filosofare” and the innovation projects dedicated to the textile, fashion and luxury sectors, for which the jewelry laboratory D’Orica of Nove (VI) is planning a series of exclusive and high-quality products; these are also based on the values and principles of an ethical and sustainable chain, with respect to environment and partners of this chain itself.
Wednesday 30th May the Social Onlus Cooperative “Il Cantiere del baco”, originated by an initiative of the “Cantiere della Provvidenza” of Belluno, and partner of Serinnovation through its agricultural section “Cantiere verde”, made the educational labs.
Photos of event
Conference “ALBERI PREZIOSI”
31st May 2018
