'The Butterfly Garden' along the Via delle Erbe e dei Fiori in Massarosa is a naturalistic oasis created thanks to the commitment of the members of the Versilia Verdelago Association as part of the territorial marketing project 'La Via delle Erbe e dei Fiori' for the development and promotion of agricultural, food and wine, environmental, naturalistic and cultural excellence of the Massarosa area.

An intervention that has revived a corner of nature in the Massarosa countryside that had been abandoned for years, made possible thanks to the contribution of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca, the collaboration and donation of some plants from WWF Alta Toscana and the Consorzio di Bonifica 1 Toscana Nord, the patronage of the Municipality of Massarosa, in synergy with experts and professionals in the sector who have studied and designed the areas with the aim of creating a habitat suitable for hosting particular species of insects, animals, plants and flowers.

A sensory and food and wine journey to discover the excellent agricultural companies of Massarosa.

The Via delle Erbe e dei Fiori is a nature trail in Massarosa, province of Lucca (Tuscany), accessible free of charge and independently in every season to live as protagonists unique experiences in contact with nature in the green heart of Versilia.

The route winds through lavender, eucalyptus and medicinal plantations, as well as olive groves, vineyards, peach orchards and lands cultivated with hops, sunflowers, saffron, barley and wheat until reaching the largest lotus flower cultivation in Europe.

La Lavanda di Massarosa is a family-run farm founded in 2010 by the passion of Timothy Venturi, his wife and children.
The company grows over 4000 plants of pure nature's spectacle.

The history of Massarosa Lavender
It all started from a small lavender field near the historic center of Massarosa then, year after year, seedling after seedling, the spectacular expanse of over 5000 Massarosa Lavender plants was born.
The varieties of lavender grown in Timothy's fields are 'lavandino' and 'lavandula officinalis'.

Timothy's Philosophy
No chemical fertilizers, all the lands cultivated with Massarosa Lavender are all 100% natural, respecting the environment and the balance of nature.
From the care of the plants to the creation of the products, everything is done by hand. Skilled artisan hands accompany the lavender in its life cycle from planting to cultivation, maintenance, up to harvesting and shelling. Everything is rigorously and proudly done by hand.

Products with Massarosa Lavender
From all lavender flowers different types of products are born:
Bags and packages of all shapes and sizes for wardrobes and drawers.
Pure and natural lavender essential oil.
Lavender hydrolate for personal well-being.
Handmade lavender soap
Lavender room freshener
Where is the Massarosa Lavender located?

Along the Via delle Erbe e dei Fiori the land cultivated with lavender is located in the Acquarella area with access from via delle viottole (on a secondary road).

To reach it, it is recommended to park near the cemetery car park or the market square of Massarosa and from there continue for a few minutes on foot following the map and the signs 'La Via delle Erbe e dei Fiori' from the intersection of via Pantaneto – via delle Viottole.

The Massarosa lavender field is open from June to mid-July, when the harvest takes place.

La Ninfea in Massarosa: it is the largest expanse of Lotus flowers in Italy. A family-run farm and agritourism run by Carla Lazzotti, her husband and daughter.
The cultivation of lotus flowers extends for about 70,000 square meters not far from the historic center of Massarosa.
The ideal months to admire the lotus flowers in bloom are between June and September.

The history of the lotus flowers of Massarosa
The idea to start growing lotus flowers was almost accidental. In the marshy area where today you can admire the spectacle of lotus flowers, rice was grown until the 1950s. Beautiful wild flowers have always grown on the edges of the basins of the ancient rice fields: lotus and water lilies.
Once the rice production was finished, the company decided to adapt the tanks and start growing lotus flowers, focusing production on shades of white and pink, until it became the largest lotus field in Italy.
Today the company, in addition to selling lotus flowers on the Italian market, ships the flowers throughout Europe where they are used for ornamental, medicinal and food purposes.

The production of lotus flowers in Massarosa
The cultivation of lotus flowers is managed by the 'cycle of nature'. In fact, lotus flowers do not require special care and specific techniques of working the land.
Lotus flowers reproduce from rhizomes and the flower seeds left to dry on the ground, falling into the water, spontaneously guarantee a rich expanse of lotus flowers every year. Similarly, the leaves, which, rotting and falling into the water, act as a natural fertilizer.
Despite this natural process of regeneration of the soil and flowers, cultivation still requires care and passion. From maintenance and protecting the flowers from being suffocated by weeds and cinnamon to protection from wild animals such as coypu and wild boars that destroy the soil to feed on the tuber at the root of the lotus flowers.
The harvest is done entirely by hand with a sickle: going into the swamp and carefully picking these beautiful flowers one by one.
The packaging is eco-friendly without the use of plastic or paper since the flowers are closed in bunches of 10 inside their own leaf and tied together.

Not just lotus flowers
In addition to the production of lotus flowers, the company also grows other aquatic plants such as water lilies, water hyacinth, water iris and papyrus and various varieties of ornamental foliage, ornamental chili peppers and hydrangeas.

Where is the lotus flower field of Massarosa located?
Along the Via delle Erbe e dei Fiori the expanse can be admired on the Fiori di loto cycle and pedestrian path.
The farmhouse is not far from the center of Massarosa, in the hamlet of Bozzano, Cagliana, on Via Sarzanese near the Bozzano train station.