A journey through historic parks, lakeside villas and quiet paths between nature and architecture
Between the Tyrrhenian coast and the hills of the Lucchesia lies a route that is little travelled yet rich in atmosphere.
It is a journey through understated gardens, historic parks and residences linked to famous stories or landscapes that speak for themselves.
In these places a visit is never rushed: you move calmly, letting details — a wooden jetty, a Baroque statue, a deer crossing your path — guide your eye.
1. Versiliana Park – Marina di Pietrasanta
Near the coast, between Marina di Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi, lies a quiet green area crossed by sandy paths and maritime pines.
Versiliana Park was Gabriele D’Annunzio’s summer retreat and today also hosts an open-air theatre, art installations and botanical trails.
Walking here means breathing resin-scented air and hearing the rhythmic sound of the sea in the distance.
2. Garden of the Medici Chapel – Seravezza
The Medici Chapel at Seravezza stands beside the Medici Palace, a residence commissioned by Cosimo I.
The garden around it, often overlooked by visitors, is a small ordered space enclosed between architecture and the green of the hills.
From here convoys of marble blocks left for Florence: nature and stone still converse in an intact landscape.
3. Villa Orlando Park – Lake Massaciuccoli
Overlooking the still waters of Lake Massaciuccoli, Villa Orlando keeps a Romantic garden blending lawn, trees and structures facing the water: an octagonal tower, a wooden jetty, boats moored among the reeds.
The villa is still lived in and can be visited by appointment. The garden suits anyone seeking an intimate place that feels like a page from a private diary.
4. Garden of the Villa Reale di Marlia – Capannori
A pochi chilometri da Lucca, Villa Reale di Marlia is home to one of the most elaborate historic gardens in Tuscany.
Qui si trovano siepi geometriche, statue barocche, giochi prospettici, teatri verdi, limonaie e alberi monumentali.
Il restauro degli ultimi anni ha riportato alla luce strutture perdute e ampliato i percorsi aperti al pubblico.
A garden to wander through slowly, corner after corner.
5. San Rossore Park – Presidential Estate
Once a hunting reserve of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, San Rossore Park is now one of the largest protected areas on the Tuscan coast.
Woods, canals, wetlands, deer roaming free and paths that reach the sea.
Access is regulated and in some zones authorised guides are required to protect the environment.
Ideal for those who love walking in silence, among filtered light and natural sounds.
6. Villa Puccini Garden – Torre del Lago
Final stop: Torre del Lago, where Giacomo Puccini chose to live and compose.
The Puccini Villa Museum preserves not only the original furnishings but also the garden overlooking the lake, simple yet evocative.
You sense the composer’s presence between the veranda on the water and the cypress shading the house.
The visit is short but intense, for anyone seeking real traces of inspired lives.
The gardens of Versilia and the Lucchesia are perfect for a slow itinerary of short drives and many pauses.
Some can be visited freely, others by appointment. All tell something personal that you only grasp at an unhurried pace.
