“Our Open Day at Villa Salviati is a joyful and meaningful celebration. It brings together individuals from all kinds of backgrounds and perspectives,” said Laura Burgassi, administrative coordinator at the Historical Archives of the European Union, which held its annual Open Day on 9 May, Europe Day.
“It is powerful because it reflects a Europe where there can be understanding and dialogue in the midst of disagreement, and where there is space for diversity, freedom, creativity and respect for others.”
An annual event for the Florence community
Around 2,500 visitors attended the 12th annual Open Day at Villa Salviati, which this year also marked the conclusion of the European University Institute’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Throughout the day, families, local residents, researchers, alumni, staff, and visitors from across Florence gathered in the gardens and courtyards of the villa for a programme of performances, guided visits, concerts, readings, and fun activities.
Under clear spring skies, many visitors spent the day picnicking in the gardens and exploring areas of the villa and archives rarely open to the public. Guided tours of the archival deposits, gardens, grotto, and historic spaces were organised in collaboration with the Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano (Florence delegation) and led by archivists and student guides.
The programme combined cultural performances with activities aimed at audiences of all ages. Circus artists from Associazione Passe-Passe animated the grounds with juggling, acrobatics, and children’s workshops, while soap-bubble performances by Sottosopra drew large crowds throughout the day. Historical re-enactors from Compagnia Tercio de’ Medici di Prato staged demonstrations, and visitors also attended portrait sessions, theatrical readings, and musical performances.
Spotlight on European rights and values
One of the special guests of the 2026 Open Day was drag queen performer Mariano Gallo, known artistically as Priscilla, who participated with HAEU archivists in readings and discussions on European values and human rights, as illustrated by documents from the holdings of the European Union institutions. During the afternoon, Priscilla also read the inclusive children’s story by Julie Love Julián al matrimonio [Julian at the Wedding], organised with Collettivo Favolos, to a rapt audience in the Grotto.
“For me, discussing human rights and European values with the archivists was extraordinarily meaningful,” said Gallo. “I believe that the strength of the Open Day lays precisely in its capacity to forge connections between different people through culture, art and memory, making European values feel close to home, tangible and deeply relevant.”
Young talent takes centre stage
The event also featured morning concerts and demonstrations by young musicians from the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, alongside two performances by artists from the Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino: a choral programme by the "Maggiolini" and an evening lyrical concert that brought the day to a close in the villa courtyard.
“The Accademia del Maggio may be described as deeply European. It embodies, in its own small way, the values that inspire the European Union project: sharing, integration and mutual growth, with artists who arrive from all over the world," said Matteo Pais, Artistic Director of the Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
"Their two-year residence in Florence and the opportunity to perform in venues such as Villa Salviati offers them a unique chance to discover precious and lesser-known parts of Florence’s historical heritage — an experience they will carry with them long after their time in Florence.”
“It was a wonderful day and a wonderful experience for them,” he concluded.
Celebrating Europe and the EUI
Reflecting on the occasion, Dieter Schlenker, Director of the Archives, noted the significance of this year’s edition. “This is our 12th Open Day at the Historical Archives of the European Union, celebrating Europe Day. This year we are particularly delighted that it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the European University Institute. Once again we were happy to share our common European heritage with so many visitors coming to Villa Salviati to celebrate Europe Day together.”
Schlenker also thanked the many long-standing local partners and collaborators who have made the event a success, including the Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano delegation of Florence and its Apprendisti Ciceroni, the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, Associazione Passe-Passe and its performers, as well as new participants who enriched the 2026 edition, among them drag queen performer Mariano Gallo, the Maggiolini and soloists of the Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and numerous artists, actors, and musicians who animated the villa and gardens throughout the day.