Lucca: Puccini, the villas and the camellias

Day 1 - Thursday 27th March – arrival in Lucca

Independent arrival at Florence station.

Ore 12.00: Transfer by coach from Florence S.M Novella station to Lucca.

Accommodation in reserved rooms at the Hotel San Luca Palace 4*

San Luca Palace, located in a quiet position on via San Paolino, right at the beginning of the historic center. It is located in an ancient building dating back to 1540 with classic furnishings but personalized by Swarosky and Baga. The finely furnished rooms offer every comfort to ensure guests a pleasant stay in the heart of the city. 

3:00 PM: Meet at the hotel with the guide who will accompany you on a walk to discover some of Lucca's masterpieces.

Famous for its historical monuments, it is one of the few provincial capitals to preserve the historic center, full of ancient structures from various eras, completely surrounded by a sixteenth-century wall. It is a notable city of art and is also called the "city of 100 churches".

Although it is impossible to see them all, we will visit: the Church of San Michele where the Madonna and Child by Luca della Robbia and the panel depicting Four Saints by Filippino Lippi are preserved, and where Giacomo Puccini gave organ lessons to his only student, Carlo Della Nina; the Cathedral of San Martino which houses true masterpieces including the Sacred Conversation by Ghirlandaio, the Last Supper by Tintoretto and what is considered the true "treasure" of the cathedral: the Holy Face, the wooden crucifix that legend says was carved by Nicodemus and the angels and which through the centuries continues to transmit a strong sense of spirituality; the Basilica of San Frediano one of the oldest places of worship in Lucca and is famous for the large mosaic on the facade, which dates back to the end of the 13th century, and is a rare example of Romanesque style in Tuscany.

Welcome dinner at a selected restaurant.

At the end: Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 2 - Friday 28th March 2025 – Villa Reale in Marlia and Villa Mansi in Capannori

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Meeting with the guide and departure by coach to Marlia (about 10km) to visit Villa Reale.

The visit to the park and Villa Reale allows you to immerse yourself in an ancient past that has its roots in the medieval era: both the buildings with their decorations and the Park with its different areas and visible ornamental elements, today are the result of a series of transformations that have taken place over the centuries at the behest of illustrious figures and royal dynasties. In 1806 Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, Napoleon's sister and Princess of Lucca, purchased the property. The Princess's bond with Villa Reale di Marlia was particularly passionate, in fact she is responsible for the major interventions that transformed the structure of the palace and the gardens. Her passage is evidence of the liveliness of court life, which was enlivened by great artists such as Niccolò Paganini.

In 2015, the historic villa, now neglected, was sold to the current owners (Henric and Marina Grönberg), who fell in love with it and accepted the challenge of restoring it to its former glory and opening it to the public for the first time.

Lunch in a selected restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, transfer by coach to visit Villa Mansi near Capannori (5 km).

Villa Mansi, dating back to the sixteenth century, is, among the many villas of Lucca, one of the most representative of the culture and society of the ancient Aristocratic Republic. In 1675 it was purchased by the Marquis Raffaello Mansi, a family well known in Europe in the field of silk trade, who chose the Villa as his favorite summer residence for himself and subsequent generations; it will remain the property of the Mansi family until 2008, the year of purchase by the current owner.

The Villa is famous for the elegance of its architectural lines and the beauty of its gardens. We will visit the villa and the garden.

At the end of the visit, return by coach to Lucca.

Free dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3 - Saturday 29th March 2025 - Villa Torrigiani in Carmigliano

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Meet your guide and depart by coach to Carmigliano (about 14 km) to visit Villa Torrigiani, renowned for its Baroque architecture and elaborate gardens.

Built in the 16th century and renovated in the 17th century, it reflects French influences, visible in the water features and Baroque decorations. The interior boasts frescoes and luxurious furnishings, while the Italian gardens feature features such as hedge mazes and spectacular fountains, making the villa an important historical and artistic attraction. We will visit the villa and the garden.

Lunch on the farm with wine tasting in the cellar.

After lunch, return to Lucca and free time.

6:45 pm: Meeting at the hotel and transfer on foot to the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini.

7:00 pm: Exclusive visit (extraordinary opening) to the PUCCINI MUSEUM – Giacomo Puccini’s Birthplace

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Return to the hotel.

Giacomo Puccini's Birthplace

The Museum dedicated to Giacomo Puccini is located on the second floor of an ancient building in the heart of Lucca, where the composer was born on December 22, 1858. This house, where Puccini spent his childhood and youth, the years of his first musical training and in-depth studies, played a crucial role in his life before moving to Milan in 1884, where he would begin his illustrious operatic career. Despite his subsequent residences elsewhere, Puccini always maintained a strong bond with this house. The museum preserves Puccini's original and personal furnishings, including precious objects and the Steinway & Sons piano on which he composed "Turandot". Also on display are autographed scores of his early works, such as the "Preludio a orchestra", resurfaced in 1999, and the "Messa a 4 voci" of 1880, as well as numerous letters exchanged, among which those with Giulio Ricordi stand out. The museum also houses paintings, photographs, sketches, memorabilia and documents that illustrate the composer's creative process, including annotated manuscripts of the operas "Tosca" and "La Fanciulla del West." Among the most notable pieces is the costume from "Turandot," worn by Maria Jeritza during the first performance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1926, made according to the designs of Umberto Brunelleschi.

Day 4 - Sunday 30th March 2025 – Lucca and departure

Breakfast at the hotel and check out of the rooms. (luggage will already be loaded on the bus).

09.30: Meeting with the guide and departure by minibus for Sant’Andrea di Compito (14 km) for a visit to the Exhibition of the Ancient Camellias of Lucca (36th edition) – The Camelietum Compitese, near Lucca in Tuscany, is an area dedicated to the cultivation and exhibition of camellias.

Nestled in the picturesque Tuscan countryside, the Camelietum Compitese is a botanical garden that offers visitors the chance to explore and admire different species and hybrids of camellias, some of which are rare and of particular botanical interest. Each year, during the flowering season, the Camelietum becomes a main attraction for the Mostra delle Antiche Camelie della Lucchesia. The garden not only serves as a conservation center for camellias, but also serves as a place of research and education, where one can learn the techniques of growing and caring for camellias.

At the end of the visit, around 12:00/12:30, departure for the Florence train station. (Travel time approximately 1 and a half hours).

Individual departures.

The order of visits can be changed for operational needs without however modifying the contents

INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION PRICES (minimum 10 people)

In a double room 1.430,00 euro
Supplement for a double room for single use: 1650,00 euro

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

• 3 nights at the 4* Hotel San Luca Palace with breakfast included
• Transfer by minivan from Florence S Maria Novella Station to Lucca (March 27)
• Transfer by minivan from Lucca to Sant’Andrea a Compito and to Florence S.M. Novella (March 30)
  Guided tours by a qualified tour guide and art historian, Dr. Susanna Buricchi
• Meals: 1 dinner in a restaurant (March 27), 1 lunch in a restaurant (March 28), 1 lunch with wine tasting in a cellar (Saturday, March 29)
  Entrance tickets to the places visited
• Transfer by bus during excursions on March 28 and 29
• A companion during the entire period
• Basic medical and baggage insurance

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Tourist taxes per person per night to be paid locally;
• Travel to/from Lucca;
• Extras, tips and everything not expressly indicated under "The price includes"

• The organizer reserves the right to cancel the trip, NO LATER THAN 30 days before departure, if the minimum number of participants has not been reached. In this case, the amount paid will be refunded in full.

HOW TO BOOK:

The reservation becomes effective upon receipt of:
1. Travel contract that we will send you at the time of booking
2. deposit requested by bank transfer

DEPOSIT:

A deposit of € 450.00 and any insurance premium for the "trip cancellation" policy are required upon booking.
Cancellation insurance can only be taken out at the same time as registering for the trip.

BALANCE:

30 days before departure (by February 26th)

CANCELLATION

In case of CANCELLATION by the customer, the following penalties will be applied, in addition to the insurance fee:

• 20% of the participation fee for cancellations by February 5, 2025
• 40% of the participation fee for cancellations by February 25, 2025
• 50% of the participation fee for cancellations by March 17, 2025
• 75% of the participation fee for cancellations by March 20, 2025 - from March 21, 2025 no refund in case of cancellation

Medical Baggage Policy included in the package

SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE POLICIES

It is possible to subscribe to the "Travel Cancellation" policy at the same time as booking the trip (regulations will be sent upon request)

Amount per person in a double and/or single room
- € 22.00 per person up to 74 years of age (cancellation also for pre-existing illnesses)
- € 44.00 per person from 75 years of age (cancellation also for pre-existing illnesses)

It is possible to take out a supplementary policy that also covers cancellation in the event of previous illnesses (quote on request).