In the heart of the Roero region, Monticello Castle celebrates its 650th anniversary by opening its grounds to contemporary art with The Stories of Water. Sculptures in the Landscape Between Nature and Artifice, an exhibition by the international collective Cracking Art, curated by Carla Testore and promoted by the Monticello Castle Association with the support of Fondazione CRC and Banca d’Alba.
From June 12 to August 2, 2026, the historic park of Monticello Castle will host 68 sculptures of animals made from regenerated plastic—dolphins, penguins, frogs, turtles, meerkats, snails, and a large elephant—engaging in a dialogue with the ponds, water basins, and pathways of the Romantic garden designed in 1827 by Xavier Kurten. Water, a symbol of transformation and renewal, serves as the exhibition’s central theme, highlighting the issues of recycling, sustainability, and environmental regeneration that lie at the core of Cracking Art’s artistic research.
The project is part of the recent restoration of the park funded through Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), which made it possible to restore the garden’s original design, enhance local ecosystems, and recover the historic rainwater collection system.
The exhibition is accompanied by an experiential visitor trail featuring educational installations focused on biodiversity, the water cycle, and sustainability, as well as workshops and family activities held on weekends.
The celebrations marking the Castle’s 650th anniversary will begin with the exhibition opening on June 12 and continue on June 13 and 14 with a weekend of free-admission events dedicated to the history of the Castle and the Roero family, who have owned the estate since 1376.
Located among the UNESCO-listed hills of the Roero region, near Alba, Monticello Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Piedmont. Still inhabited by the Counts Roero today, it retains its towers, battlements, and historic interiors, which can be visited on guided tours, all set within a centuries-old park rich in monumental trees.
The Stories of Water. Sculptures in the Landscape Between Nature and Artifice
Park of Monticello Castle, Monticello d’Alba
June 12 – August 2, 2026
Opening hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 am–12:30 pm / 2:30 pm–6:00 pm
Email: info@roerodimonticello.it
Phone: +39 347 4437144
Website: roerodimonticello.it
