Cultural Events
Alongside the scientific sessions, SINS2025 includes a rich selection of cultural events that invite participants to discover the artistic, historical, and scientific heritage of Pisa. Through concerts, guided museum visits, and free access to outstanding university collections, attendees have the opportunity to explore the city’s legacy and experience its cultural treasures in unique and meaningful ways.
University of Pisa Choir – Concert
- Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
- Time: 19:00
- Location: Verdi Theatre
We are pleased to invite all congress participants to a special cultural event featuring the University of Pisa Choir, which will perform a concert in the historic Teatro Verdi on the evening of the first congress day.
Founded in 1999, the choir brings together students, faculty, staff, and international guests of the University of Pisa.
Under the direction of Maestro Stefano Barandoni and accompanied by pianist Silvia Mannari, the ensemble is known for its rich and diverse repertoire, ranging from sacred music and opera to modern works and international collaborations.
The evening’s program will include choral excerpts from Verdi’s operas I due Foscari, Nabucco, and La traviata, as well as a powerful selection of movements from Carl Orff’s celebrated Carmina Burana.
This concert offers a unique opportunity to enjoy an inspiring performance in one of Pisa’s most prestigious venues and to experience the intersection of music, culture, and the academic spirit.
The Choir
The University of Pisa Choir was founded in the 1999/2000 academic year through the initiative of Professor Carolyn Gianturco, who served as its coordinator until 2013. The ensemble brings together students from all areas of study at the University of Pisa, along with faculty, administrative staff, and international students participating in the Erasmus program.
In 2014, leadership of the choir passed to Professor Maria Antonella Galanti, who remained in charge until her untimely passing in June 2021. Since then, the choir has become part of the “Maria Antonella Galanti” Music Center, along with the University Orchestra. The center was directed by Professor Maria Letizia Gualandi from 2021 to 2023 and is currently overseen by Professor Fabrizio Cigni (from 2024). It is part of the University’s Center for Innovation and Cultural Outreach, directed by Professor Saulle Panizza.
Under the direction of Maestro Stefano Barandoni, the choir performs regularly, including an annual concert during the Giugno Pisano festival. Its repertoire spans a wide range of works, including Banchieri’s Festino nella sera del giovedì grasso, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Requiem, Davide Penitente, Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, Litaniae Lauretanae, Te Deum, and Great Mass in C minor, KV 427; Beethoven’s Mass in C Major and Symphony No. 9 in D minor, “Choral”; Dobrogosz’s Mass; Schubert’s Mass in G Major, Magnificat, and Stabat Mater; Mendelssohn’s Hymne; Vivaldi’s Domine ad adjuvandum, Kyrie, and Gloria; and selections from Händel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, Laudate Pueri, Dixit Dominus, and Messiah.
The choir has also performed Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Haydn’s Cäcilienmesse, and Verdi’s Requiem. One of its yearly highlights is the Christmas Concert, featuring traditional and contemporary holiday music. In recent years, the program has included selections from La Bohème and Turandot by Puccini, L’elisir d’amore by Donizetti, West Side Story by Bernstein, and Il trovatore, La traviata, and Aida by Verdi, as well as Idomeneo, King of Crete by Mozart.
The choir regularly performs at official university ceremonies, including the opening of the academic year, the “Campano d’Oro” ceremony, honors degree ceremonies, the “Order of the Cherub” awards, the Curtatone and Montanara commemoration, and the PhD graduates’ celebration. It also takes part in academic conferences and symposia hosted by university departments and research centers.
Over the years, the choir has participated in various festivals, including Certosa Festival (Calci), Sagra Musicale Lucchese, Festival Marenia (Pisan coast), Estate in Musica (Scandicci), Festival 11 Lune (Peccioli), La Versiliana, Robotics Festival, and Festival Toscano di Musica Antica. It has performed at the universities of Modena, Perugia, Parma, and internationally at the universities of Girona (Spain), Innsbruck (Austria), and Ulm (Germany).
The choir has joined university choir and orchestra symposia in Brixen and Perugia, as well as the Festival Università Canta in Bergamo/Brescia.
As part of the celebrations marking the Dante anniversary, the choir gave the world premiere of the oratorio Dante. L’altre stelle at the Teatro Verdi in Pisa. The work, written for soloists, choir, and orchestra, was composed by Marco Bargagna with a libretto by Alberto Casadei featuring original texts and a selection of Dante’s writings.
In July 2025, on the occasion of the 49th International Byron Conference held in Pisa, the choir performed Verdi’s I due Foscari.
Concert program
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
From “I due Foscari”: Alle gioie, alle corse, alle gare | Tace il vento, è queta l’onda | Tacque il reo
From “Nabucco”: Va, pensiero
From “La traviata”: Libiamo, libiamo
Carl Orff (1895- 1982)
From “Carmina Burana”: O Fortuna | Fortune plango vulnera | Veris leta facies | Ecce gratum | Swaz hie gat umbe | Were diu werlt alle min
Guided Tour of the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo
- Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025
- Time: from 19:30
- Location: Museo dell’Opera del Duomo
The museum is located at Piazza del Duomo 23, just opposite the Leaning Tower, within the monumental complex of the Cathedral of Pisa.
The guided tour is available exclusively to Gala Dinner participants.
Enhance your Gala Dinner experience with an exclusive guided tour of the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Pisa, the very venue that hosts our evening together
Located adjacent to the Loggiato where the dinner takes place, the museum houses an extraordinary collection of masterpieces originally created for the Cathedral, Baptistery, and Tower. Among its treasures are sculptures by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, medieval paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and precious liturgical objects that narrate the artistic and spiritual history of Piazza dei Miracoli.
This is a unique opportunity to explore, in an intimate setting, the rich heritage that surrounds the Leaning Tower. The guided tour lasts approximately 40 minutes and offers a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical context of the monuments that frame our evening.
Useful Information
The guided tour is complimentary and available exclusively to Gala Dinner participants. You can reserve your spot when registering for the dinner. If you’ve already confirmed your attendance at the Gala Dinner, simply log in to the Online Conference Management System to add the tour to your booking
The tour will be organized into five groups of up to 30 participants, with departures every 5 minutes starting at 7:30 p.m., ensuring a relaxed and engaging experience before the Gala Dinner begins.
You will be asked to select your preferred time slot when reserving your place.
Participants are kindly asked to arrive at the museum entrance at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time of their selected group.
Guided Visit to the Museo di Anatomia Umana
- Date: September 11 – 12, 2025
- Time: 19:00
- Location: Museum of Human Anatomy
The museum is located at Via Roma 55, within the historic Scuola Medica, just 150 meters from the Leaning Tower
A unique journey through the history of anatomy in one of Italy’s oldest medical schools.
Join us for an exclusive after-hours guided tour of the Museum of Human Anatomy “Filippo Civinini”, housed in the historic medical complex of the University of Pisa. This remarkable museum showcases a fascinating collection of anatomical preparations, wax models, and medical instruments, reflecting centuries of scientific inquiry and anatomical education. The museum also houses archaeological collections from ancient Peru and ancient Egypt, offering a rare glimpse into how different civilizations approached the understanding of the human body.
Led by museum staff, the tour will provide insights into the evolution of anatomical study and the role of Pisa in the history of medical science.
Useful Information
The tour is limited to a group of 25 participants. Two tours are scheduled, one on Thursday 11 and one on Friday 12 September 2025. You will be asked to select your preferred day when registering.
The group will meet outside the main entrance of the Scuola Medica of the University of Pisa (Via Roma 55). Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the start of the tour and remember to wear your conference badge for identification.
Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa
- Date: September 9 – 14, 2025
- Time: 9:00 – 19:00 (Monday–Saturday), 9:00 – 20:00 (Sunday)
- Location: Via Roma 79, Calci (PI)
A museum of extraordinary creatures, ancient fossils, and aquatic wonders, set within the quiet grandeur of a Tuscan monastery.
Nestled within the majestic 14th-century Certosa di Calci, the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa offers an extraordinary exploration of the natural world. Established in 1596, it stands as one of the oldest natural history museums globally. Visitors can marvel at extensive collections, including the impressive Cetacean Gallery—the largest in Italy—with full-scale whale skeletons, as well as exhibits on paleontology, zoology, and mineralogy. The museum also features Italy’s largest freshwater aquarium, providing an immersive experience into aquatic ecosystems.
Useful Information
Free admission is granted to SINS 2025 participants during the museum’s regular opening hours, upon presentation of the congress badge at the museum ticket desk.
The museum is located approximately 10 km from Pisa. Participants are kindly asked to arrange their own transportation.
Full visitor information, including opening hours, directions, exhibitions, and how to reach the museum by public transportation, is available on the official website at https://www.msn.unipi.it/en/
Botanical Garden and Museum of the University of Pisa
- Date: September 9 – 14, 2025
- Time: every day, 8:30 – 17:30
One entrance is located at Via Luca Ghini 13, and the other at Via Roma 56, just 300 metres from the Leaning Tower
A peaceful walk through centuries of botanical science.
Founded in 1543, the Botanical Garden of the University of Pisa is the world’s oldest university botanical garden. Situated in the heart of Pisa, just steps from Piazza dei Miracoli, it spans two hectares and hosts a diverse array of plant species from around the globe. Visitors can explore themed sections, historical greenhouses, and ancient trees, including a majestic magnolia planted in the 18th century. The adjoining Botanical Museum houses collections of botanical illustrations, wax models, and an extensive herbarium, reflecting centuries of botanical research and education.
Useful Information
Free admission is granted to SINS 2025 participants during the garden and museum’s regular opening hours, upon presentation of the congress badge at the entrance.
Full visitor information, including opening hours, directions, exhibitions, and how to reach the museum by public transportation, is available on the official website at https://www.ortomuseobot.sma.unipi.it/en/