5 ideas for the Easter Monday trip

There's no Easter without the Easter Monday trip...

Here are 5 suggestions for a relaxing day dedicated to the outing in company. You can choose between picnics in the parks, walks by the sea, outings and treasure hunts.
e... Happy Easter to everyone!

down to the river

The river Serchio flows north of Lucca a few hundred meters from the city walls. On the nineteenth century embankments runs a cycle path cycle path, in the shade of poplars and salt flats, quiet and suitable for everyone, especially families.

With a simple street bike you can reach, leaving Porta Anta Maria, the Petroni terrace and ride for about 11 km, the two sides of the Serchio river enclosed between Ponte di Monte San Quirico and Ponte San Pietro, and maybe open for a picnic in the equipped areas or go down directly on the sandy bank of the river.

Bicycle lovers can continue to Ponte a Moriano where the park partially crosses a variant of the Via Francigena and nature is predominant.

there's a path to the "Golden Words"

A classic of Lucca's Easter Monday outings, a magical place immersed in the green hills south of Lucca. From the train station, using the pedestrian underpass you can reach the Tempietto di Valle and from there follow the path under the arches of the 19th century Nottolini aqueduct.

In this way you can reach the Tempietto di Monte and this corner of paradise.

It is here that the excellent oligomineral waters that feed the fountains of Lucca's historic centre are collected from Monte Pisano, the ideal place for picnics and outdoor walks. At the entrance, a small bridge bears an inscription in brass letters, "mistaken" for gold by the peasants of the time. These are the famous "golden words" that give the name to this park.

Bring sandwiches and salads with you but allow us to advise you to avoid disposable crockery. It will be easier for you to eat and respect nature.

an aristocratic afternoon

On the hills, the villas of Lucca form a rich itinerary a few kilometers from the city.

Villa Torrigiani, Villa Reale, Villa Grabau, Villa Oliva, Villa Bernardini, Villa Mansi were the country estates of the aristocrats of the Republic of Lucca in the 14th century, with splendid English or Italian gardens, camellia gardens, lemon trees and suggestive fountains. An extraordinary combination of nature and art for a day dedicated to relaxation and the discovery of Lucca's history:

On Easter Monday the Park of Villa Reale in addition to the walk in the park you can participate in the special "Botanical Treasure Hunt" Caccia al Tesoro Botanico, designed to bring children closer to the garden and nature, making them discover and recognize in a playful way - leaf by leaf - the trees and plants in the parks. (remember to book!)

at the castle

A day in the green of the Garfagnana between the fortress of Mont' Alfonso and the historic center of Castelnuovo dressed to party with the farmer's market and that of 'crafts'.

The Este fortress, renovated by Ludovico Ariosto at the time when he was Governor of Garfagnana, from which you can admire a splendid view over the entire valley, will be the scene of the Air Day, Giornata dell’aria with street artists, balloons and soap bubbles, inflatable parks, model aircraft trials, kites and the possibility to fly over the valley of Garfagnana by helicopter.

on the beach

Another great classic for Lucchese Angel Monday is to treat yourself to the first taste of the season's seafood. Some bathing establishments open the first beach umbrellas, or you can walk the free beach for more than 20 kilometers of coastline from Viareggio to Forte dei Marmi along the dunes and pine forest of the park of Migliarino San Rossore. For families and street food lovers, on Easter Monday Viareggio turns into a fantastic pirate village with the arrival of the magical Black Pearl, Jack Sparrow's ship to entertain the little ones while parents enjoy the gastronomic delights of "Viareggio Street Food", or in search of fish and chips on the quayside of the port, shops and Art Nouveau houses on the promenade.

(foto R. Giomi,  N.Ughi)