The Garden of Peace

The Garden of Peace

Curated by the Municipality of Sciacca in collaboration with local associations.

Under the guidance of Gilbert Fillinger, director of Art & Jardins | Hauts-de-France, and part of the European project "Gardens of Peace," the garden represents a new chapter in an initiative that, since 2018, has created over 30 gardens in iconic locations marked by World War I. These spaces, designed by landscape architects and architects from various nations, symbolize harmony between cultures and the essential value of peace.

In January, Gilbert Fillinger will be in residence in Agrigento to conduct in-depth research on the landscape and historical memory of the area. This experience will see him collaborating with local experts to develop an artistic vision that will bring to life a garden capable of becoming a symbol of universal peace and dialogue. The design will be the result of a process of listening and connecting with the territory, integrating elements of local history and culture into a work of great artistic and symbolic value. The Garden of Peace, which will be inaugurated in October 2025 as part of Agrigento Italian Capital of Culture, is not just a landscaping project but an invitation to reflect on the fragility and importance of peace. Its inauguration will also be accompanied by a photographic exhibition documenting the Gardens of Peace already realized in Europe, creating a visual and symbolic bridge between the past and the future. The garden will also serve as the stage for cultural events, workshops, and dialogues, designed to encourage collective reflection and stimulate active community participation. This refurbished public space will become a place of meeting and beauty, designed to evoke the power of memory and coexistence.

Seeds of Dialogue

Through the involvement of architects, landscape architects, and the local community, it will become a tangible symbol of the need to build bonds between cultures and generations, reaffirming the value of culture as a tool for unity. It is not just about creating a physical place, but offering a space for reflection that invites imagining a fairer and more inclusive future. The Garden of Peace is not only a tribute to history and the beauty of the landscape but also a call to action and collective responsibility. Its realization underscores the importance of dialogue between past and present, offering an opportunity to think of peace not as a definitive achievement, but as a value that must be cultivated every day.
The main goal of the project is twofold: to celebrate historical memory and promote a message of unity and hope. In a world still marked by divisions and conflicts, this garden will become a living symbol of the possibility of building a better tomorrow. Through the language of landscape and art, the Garden of Peace reaffirms the idea that beauty, culture, and memory can pave the way to a more harmonious and supportive future.