Easter Monday Botanical Treasure Hunt at Villa Reale di Marlia

For children aged 3 to 9 – the little ones can still enter the park and play with their families.

Reservations required, see below.

The Easter Monday botanical treasure hunt, an event conceived and organized by the Grandi Giardini Italiani network, is an excellent opportunity to bring children closer to the garden and to nature, making them discover and recognize in a playful way – leaf by leaf – the trees and the plants present in the parks.

On Monday 10 April, the usual appointment signed by Grandi Giardini Italiani at Villa Reale returns: at the gates of Lucca in one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy that has just been reborn thanks to the great restoration!

Now in its 26th edition, the Grandi Giardini Italiani Botanical Treasure Hunt is the event dedicated to children to bring them closer in a playful and joyful way to the immense botanical, artistic and cultural heritage kept in the gardens of the circuit.

In the gardens of the circuit, participating in the initiative, participants will receive a treasure map that will guide budding botanists and their families in discovering the secrets of the chosen garden. A fantastic adventure between puzzles and riddles ranging from botanical and artistic curiosities until you reach the coveted treasure.

“Today is the time for gardens, for leisure in contact with greenery – explains Judith Wade, founder and CEO of Grandi Giardini Italiani – surrounded by art and culture, immersed in the beauty that comforts and helps to grow in awareness. Two years of the pandemic have taught us to truly appreciate what we considered to be a heritage of Italy that was always available and whose role we only understood when it was denied to us.”

Useful Info Botanical Treasure Hunt – Royal Villa of Marlia

How it takes place: the children go in search of the botanical treasure together with their families and friends by following the map that is given at the ticket office. Once all the clues have been found and the riddles solved, you will come to find out where the chest with the treasure is! Each child will take home a small prize.

Time: according to the time booked online, you can arrive within 30 minutes, the hunt begins when you arrive at the ticket office! Example: if you have booked for 10am you can arrive by 10.30am and once you receive the map you can start!

Costs: children €5 BY SELECTING THE “TREASURE HUNT” TICKET only for children who participate in the hunt and for younger siblings who want to receive the prize; this ticket also allows children to enter museums. For children aged 10 and over who want to participate in the hunt, the “treasure hunt” ticket must be added to the reduced park entrance ticket.

For infants, the ticket to select is the homage without hunting.

For adults it depends on the ticket with or without interiors (maximum €18).

Reservations required: Yes by pre-purchasing the entrance ticket on our website while seats last!

Is it possible to have lunch in the park? Certain! The Cafè Villa Reale facing the lake will be at your disposal with cold dishes, homemade focaccias, cakes and ice creams from 10:30 to 17:30.

Picnic: it is possible to picnic in the lateral areas of the park, making sure you leave no trace when you are finished 😉

If we are several families can we play together? Yes, that’s why we recommend booking for the same entry time.

How long is the hunt? On average 1 hour but it’s not a timed race, the important thing is to find the treasure! You can also stay in the park after the hunt is over, by 6pm.

In case of rain? The event will take place anyway, in that case we recommend rubber boots and a cape for a playful adventure!

Is the ticket refundable? No it is valid only for the chosen date; if you cannot come, you can give it to others who will have to respect the arrival time. Once the corresponding tickets have been delivered, they will not be given back to others who present themselves with the same order number.

Do season ticket holders have to buy a ticket? Only for children participating in the hunt and reply to the ticket receipt email indicating that there are no adults in the order because you are a season ticket holder