March 8 – 9, 15 – 16, 22 – 23, 29 – 30: CAMELLIA SHOW (ANTICHE CAMELIE DELLA LUCCHESIA): Pieve and San Andrea di Compito (Lucca). Open 10 am – 6 pm. Tickets: €8 euro, free for children under 13, disabled with assistance, and journalists.
At the foot of the Pisan mountains in the province of Lucca, surrounded by medieval architecture and the scenic Tuscan landscape lie the villages Sant’Andrea di Compito and Pieve di Compito. With an elevation of 1000m, they have the perfect climate for Japanese camellias (camellia japonica), which have been growing there for more than 200 years since they were first imported by the merchants of Lucca in the 17th century. More than a hundred different varieties of this camellia species bloom every year in March in various shades of colour, ranging from white to pink to dark red and an annual festival is held each year to allow visitors to view these extraordinary flowers.
Visitors should know that the Borgo will be closed to traffic and transportation to the grounds will be by shuttle, the price of which is included in the ticket purchase. The shuttle will run every 20 minutes from 9:45am, with the last outward journey at 5pm, and the last return at 7pm. Visitors should allow two hours to explore the grounds.
The four weekends of the event are filled with activities of all ages, including free tours led by botanical guides throughout the day. On March 16 and 30, there will be a performance of medieval dances and farandole among the camellias. On March 15, 16, 29, and 30, a special Bonsai exhibition organised by curator Andrea Giovannetti will be open, and a Japanese tea ceremony will take place on March 22, 23, 29, and 30. Reservation for this is required and can be made by sending an email to info@iroha.it, or calling 3317315874. The cost of attending is €5.
Every weekend of the festival, from noon to 2:30 pm, visitors will be able to indulge in the ‘Camelia menu,’ a platter of local cold meats and cheeses, bruschetta with organic EVO oil, olives in brine, tea cake, and a glass of organic wine from the farm for €15. Reservations can be made by emailing info@allecamelie.it or calling 3382572695.
On the occasion of the exhibition of the ancient camellias of the Lucchesia, Villa Reale di Marlia is also showcasing the park with its collection of camellias just 15km away. If you visit the Camellia Garden of Sant’Andrea di Compito in March, you can also visit the whole complex of Villa Reale from Monday to Friday with a reduced ticket price of €11. The ticket is full price if one chooses to visit the complex during the weekend. (Mina Lozanova)
