Isthe beautiful annual flower festival held each weekend at Sant'Andrea and Pieve di Compito. Meeting and information point is the little chapel, with many displays held near the Centro Culturale Compitese, where snacks are served. Antica Chiusa Borrini offers the amateur camelia market and unique Italian tea plants. At Chiesa di Sant'Andrea di Compito, "Donne di fiori" art is on display. Visit the Villa Borrini gardens and the Camellietum Compitese Botanical Garden, a collection of 700 camelias from the 1800's. Frantoio La Visona (olive oil mill) offers tastings and sales of extra virgin oil and other products. Villa Orsi, 17 18 March, opens its gates to a Japanese Tea Room, painting exhibit and centuries old camelia plants. At Villa Giovannetti, see camelias and the display "feminine landscapes for health and well being". Villa Torregrossa has art exhibits and healing “pathways” from La Farfalla Cultural Association (10,11,24 March).

The festival includes guided hikes, musical events in the Camellietum and the Villas, and other special events at Tenuta dello Scompiglio and the Villas: Lazzareschi, Mazzarosa, Mansi, Nardi, Reale, Tani, Torrigiani. Shuttle buses leave from Carraia at via Tazio Nuvolari, ZI Carraia, 3 km from the new Capannori highway entrance.

Tickets €6, all inclusive for 11, 18 and 25 March, and free for chil dren under 14 and for disabled persons. This includes the shuttle bus (10am to 6pm daily), access to Borgo delle Camelia (Sant' Andrea and Pieve), to the Villas Tour, and to the Capannori Museum. Detailed programme at www.camelielucchesia.it