With the arrival of spring, Milan welcomes the twelfth edition of the Spring Break, the market exhibition organized by FAI – Fund for the Italian environment. On 15 and 16 March 2025, Villa Necchi Campiglio will host nurserymen, experts and enthusiasts for an immersive experience between rare plants, enveloping perfumes and botanical traditions
A breath of spring and the tribute to Camellia Japonica
The 2025 edition of the Spring Bloom celebrates Camellia Japonica, a plant that has its roots in Japanese and Chinese culture, where for centuries it has been the protagonist of legends, art and rituals.
Introduced to Europe in the eighteenth century thanks to the merchants and botanists who explored the Far East, Camellia Japonica soon became a cult flower among the aristocratic elites. In the gardens of the European courts, its winter flowering represented a sign of exclusivity and prestige, while its rarer varieties were disputed by collectors.
In Japan, Camelia is known as Tsubaki and is deeply rooted in local traditions. Associated with the samurai, whose code of honor imposed discipline and sacrifice, this plant symbolized ephemeral life, since its flowers, once dried, fall entirely, without losing the petals one at a time, just like the warrior who falls in battle with dignity and pride.
From literature to opera: the camellia between art and romance
In addition to being a botanical icon, Camelia has inspired artists, writers and composers. In the nineteenth century, Alexandre Dumas son consecrated his myth with the famous novel “The lady of the camellias”poignant history of an impossible love that led to the birth of the opera opera “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi. The flower, a symbol of purity and desire, thus became a recurring element in romantic works, embodying fleeting beauty and tormented love.
A special free free tribute
Spring breath, an exclusive exhibition of the cut flower, will allow you to admire the different varieties of this specimen, exposed thanks to the collaboration with the Camelia APS company. Botanicals and experts will guide visitors to discover the cultivation and care of this extraordinary plant, revealing techniques and secrets to make it thrive even in the less favorable climates.
To celebrate the camellia not only in its most aesthetic form but also in its historical and cultural value, a tasting of tea will also be organized by Chiara Maffei of Tea fieldrenowned plantation on the banks of Lake Lugano. The drink, extracted from Camellia Sinensis, shares a botanical lineage with Camellia Japonica that has its roots in the eastern tradition.
Visitors will be able to savor different varieties of this millennial Elisir, discovering its processing methods and the extraordinary beneficial properties.
A weekend of experiences between nature and knowledge
During the event, visitors will also have the opportunity to explore a universe of colors and perfumes, letting themselves be inspired by the creations of the best Italian nurserymen. Among the exhibition corners, it will be possible to find seasonal blooms such as primrile, violets and cyclamen, fruit trees, aromatic plants, evergreen and bulbous shrubs, alongside solutions for the garden furniture and tools for the care of plants.
But the event is not limited to exposure. The gardener of Villa Necchi Campiglio, Luca Dell’Acqua, will offer personalized advice on how to take care of his own green space, while the nurseryman Saskia Pellion of Persano will guide the participants to discover the best pruning techniques.
Another unmissable moment will be the conference “La Camelia: cultivation and historical notes “with the participation of Andrea Corneo, president of the Italian Society of Camelia and Paolo Zacchera, one of the greatest experts in this botanical species.
For those who love the green design, the meeting “The landscape driver tells himself“, Conducted by the architect Filippo Pizzoni and Susanna Magistretti, will offer a reflection on the profession of the gardener and on the new trends in the design of the landscape.
Villa Necchi Campiglio: timeless elegance between nature and architecture
To make the spring breath even more suggestive is its exceptional setting: Villa Necchi Campiglio. Immersed in a luxuriant garden in the heart of Milan, the villa embodies the sophisticated and innovative spirit of the Lombard industrial bourgeoisie of the twentieth century.
Built between 1932 and 1935 on a project by the architect Piero Portaluppi, the residence was commissioned by Nedda and Gigina Necchi and by the husband of the latter, Angelo Campiglio, prominent exponents of a family who had made luck in the metallurgical industry. The building represents a perfect balance between rationalist rigor and discreet luxury, with interiors with attention to the smallest details, large windows that dialogue with the surrounding greenery and a cutting -edge functionality for the time.
One of the most innovative elements of the villa is the heated swimming pool, one of the first made in a private home in Milan, which symbolizes the desire for modernity and well -being of the historic family. Over time, the residence was enriched by the interventions of the architect Tomaso Buzzi, who introduced decorative elements inspired by eighteenth -century art, embellishing the environments with refined details and works of art.
Today, the villa is a good protected by FAIwho made it a space open to the public, where it is possible to admire vintage furnishings, paintings by artists of the caliber of Giorgio De Chirico and Canaletto, as well as a precious collection of ceramics and porcelain.
During the spring of spring, his park comes alive instead of colors and perfumes. In short, among the rooms that tell the story of an era and flower gardens that welcome the awakening of spring, the link between nature and culture is renewed with harmony and elegance.