With its Botanical Garden founded over two centuries ago, Lucca is one of Italy’s greenest cities. The Guinigi Tower – one of its symbols – bears on its summit a roof garden with centuries-old holm oaks. Verdemura and Murabilia are the two events dedicated to gardens and plants held near the Botanical Garden on the magnificent and imposing city walls. The first one, April 5-7, devotes particular emphasis to tulips and camellias this year, with exhibitions, displays of historical collections, and meetings. Meanwhile, Murabilia takes place on the first weekend of September. It offers a comprehensive program of meetings on all things garden and plants in addition to the many selected exhibitors.

Between Pieve di Compito and Sant’Andrea, not far from Lucca, lies the Village of Camellias. Thanks to the area’s microclimate, camellias, imported from Japan in the 17th century, have adapted perfectly and multiplied in the surrounding gardens. To mark the Antiche camelie di Lucchesia exhibition, the gates of the villas are open to visitors who can marvel at centuries-old camellias preserved by the owners and their gardeners’ expertise and passion. The Ancient Camellias of Lucca exhibition occurs this year on all weekends in March and the last three in October. From the Village of Camellias to the Village of Citrus Trees, we find ourselves between Lucca and Pistoia in Buggiano Castello, a medieval gem town on a hilltop. Its gardens have always been rich in vegetables and fruit trees, mainly citruses. La campagna dentro le mura is an exhibition that opens private gardens scattered around the countryside to the public every two years. This year’s “Countryside within the Walls” dates are April 28 and May 5. L’Agrumeta festival in Pietrasanta features citruses as protagonists too, which from April 5 to 7 will captivate the entire city: from Piazza Duomo, hosting citrus trees of all species to some historic private gardens, restaurants with menus featuring oranges, lemons, grapefruits, citrons, limes or tangerines.

Wrapping up this tour of green appointments is the Firenze Flower Show: on April 6 and 7, the splendid renaissance garden of Villa Corsini, a green oasis in the city center, will welcome producers and collectors of botanical rarities, talks with experts and workshops in which to learn the tricks of the trade.