On Thursday 30 April 2026, at 8:30 PM, at the Civic Cultural Center on Via del Cantiere in the Lovere Tourist Port, a conference by malacologist Carlo Guarino will take place, entitled “La perfezione delle conchiglie che ha conquistato scienziati, artisti e chef”.

Free admission.

Shells are much more than simply fascinating objects: they represent the outer skeleton of one of the most numerous groups in the animal kingdom, the molluscs. Together we will explore these organisms from both a scientific and an artistic perspective, discovering their shapes, structures and varieties. We will delve into the many uses of shells: from the refined craftsmanship of cameos to the creation of pearl jewellery, right through to the precious fabrics made from byssus. A journey that will also touch on lesser-known areas: the use of shells as currency and their symbolic role in ornaments and amulets. Finally, we will discuss their presence in the kitchen, with a close look at the origins of the species that end up on our tables.

Text and cover image by Museo di Scienze Naturali di Lovere