Aino & Alvar Aalto – The honeymoon route in Italy, 2nd edition

Italy has a privileged space in the lives and careers of Aino, Alvar and Elissa Aalto. In October 1924, Aino and Alvar chose Italy for their honeymoon, largely following an itinerary that Aino had already experienced three years earlier after graduating in architecture. 

The young couple left Helsinki on their way to Italy on 8 October 1924 via Tallinn, Vienna and Innsbruck. Their Italian itinerary ended in Venice on 30 October, the main places visited being Verona, Padova and Firenze, but mostly Venice. 

This travel has been most influential in their lives and careers and was a solid ground for a successful network with Italian avant garde architects. From this comes the “Aino & Alvar Aalto Honeymoon Route”, promoted by Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, with Alvar Aalto Foundation and the Aalto Family and supported by a large partnership. 

The second edition (9–12 October 2026) opens an exciting new chapter in this “route of memory” designing a slightly different itinerary and adding new focusing on Aino Marsio-Aalto’s travels to Italy from 1921 to 1924. What kind of Italy did Aino and Alvar Aalto encounter during these formative years? 

Through seminars, readings and guided tours in historic cities and landscape, the programme invites participants to rediscover the country as it appeared a century ago. Also, the 2026 programme takes on a strong symbolic significance, as it marks ninety years since Aino’s success as head of Artek, crowned by the Gold Medal at the 1936 Triennale, and fifty years since Alvar’s death. 

Participants may either book the complete bus tour from Florence to Venice (25–30 places) or attend selected individual events. Full programme details will be announced soon.

Information and booking at: aaltoitalia100@gmail.com 

Programme

Friday 9 October 
Fiesole, opening seminar at Fondazione Giovanni Michelucci – Firenze, Sacello Rucellai and guided tour in the city centre 

Saturday 10 October 
Padua, guided tour in the historic town, visit Palazzo della Ragione, Cappella Ovetari and Cappella degli Scrovegni 

Sunday 11 October 
Bus tour from Padua to Monselice, visit Monselice hilltown, readings from Aino and Alvar Aalto’s diaries 

Monday 12 October 
Venice, closing seminar at San Giorgio Island, visit the former San Giorgio convent and guided tour to Palladio churches on Canal Grande