Music, food, entertainment and culture. Three weekends of events for the Mostra delle camelie sasanqua e sinensis, which will be held in Pieve and Sant'Andrea di Compito on 8 and 9, 15 and 16, 22 and 23 October 2022. Last weekend the 'Frantoi aperti' (open oil mills) return
There will not only be the beauty of autumn blossoms. The "VI Exhibition of Camellias sasanqua and sinensis" will in fact propose jazz concerts, cultural meetings, children's entertainment, local handicraft markets, typical cuisine of the Lucca area and wine tastings of local wineries. Also worth mentioning is the return of the 'Frantoi aperti' initiative, in which the best new oil will be awarded. These are just some of the events that will animate the "Borgo delle camelie" over the next three weekends. At Pieve and Sant'Andrea di Compito, in Capannori, the Autumn Exhibition will begin on the weekend of Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October, and will continue over the following two weeks (15 and 16, 22 and 23 October). It is organised by the Centro Culturale Compitese, in collaboration with the municipality of Capannori and other local organisations.
The preview
During the inauguration, scheduled for Saturday 8 October in the new Auditorium Sinensis of the Camellietum Compitese (10.30 a.m.), speakers will include Anna Lenzi (University of Florence) and Pierluigi Micheli (Camellietum scientific curator) on the theme "Unusual, re-flowering and perfumed Camellias". The opening of the exhibition will be preceded by a special preview: on Friday 7 October, in the ancient Church of San Martino in Palaiola (6 p.m.), Giovanni Ranieri Fascetti (lecturer and writer) and the councillor for culture of the Municipality of Capannori, Francesco Cecchetti, will talk about the "Via Micaelica" and the signs of the cult of St Michael in the territories of Lucca and Pisa.
This beautiful event will make it possible to admire the Sasanqua and Sinensis camellias, but also to visit the entire camellia grove, which is becoming more and more enriched with new varieties,' says Culture Councillor Francesco Cecchetti. The exhibition will also offer the opportunity to participate in numerous and various cultural initiatives and to discover the excellent local food and wine products.
This year's many novelties represent a turning point for this beautiful village, even in the autumn, offering a proposal that ranges from food to music, from entertainment for children to excursions, from the beauty of the camellia blossoming to the discovery of the territory, its history and its extraordinary riches. Starting with the new oil and the opening of the Compitese oil mills.
Traditional Cuisine
During the exhibition it will be possible to have lunch at the Compitese Cultural Centre, which will propose a different menu for each weekend. What unites all the proposals is the choice of local products and the cooking of dishes that belong to the local tradition. There will be tagliolini with red written beans from the Lucca area, spelt from the Compitese area, zuppa alla frantoiana, as well as tripe à la lucchese, picchiante, stew with olives and other dishes closely linked to the gastronomic culture of the Tuscan lands. The dishes, as well as wines from local wineries, will be available for purchase with the 'Camelini'. At the entrance to the Cultural Centre there will in fact be a currency exchange counter.
Jazz and camellias
For the 'VI Autumn Flowering Camellia Exhibition', the Camellietum Compitese will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (5 euro is the ticket price; free admission for the disabled and young people under 18). Every day it will be possible to attend a jazz concert on the stage of the Auditorium Sinensis (starting at 3 pm). On the first weekend the 'Marcus Bostik Group Jazz Quartet' will play, on 15 and 16 October it will be the turn of the 'Frassi Telloli duo', while on the closing weekend (23 and 24 October) the 'Francesco Massagli Trio' will perform.
Other initiatives
In addition to the guided tours of the Camellietum, excursions to the Monti Pisani and the treasure hunt are also scheduled every weekend: the theme varies every weekend, and participation is free for all ticket holders (5 stages planned, prize guaranteed for those who complete the route). Last but not least, there is tea tasting, children's entertainment (every Sunday, with the Gruppo Verdifole and Gigetto the elf), workshops and courses for children and adults (from origami to the art of basket weaving), craft and self-production markets (Sundays only) and appointments to discover the "Borgo delle Camelie" and its narratives with the guided tour (Torre di avvistamento, Romanesque Church of San Pietro al Forcone, Ancient Chiusa Borrini) and with the stories of the villagers Tristano Orsi and Vincenzo Di Martella Orsi, who will show the World War II air-raid shelter and tell about life in the village. In addition, on the occasion of the national day of persons with Down syndrome (9 October), there will be two events organised in collaboration with the Lucca Down Syndrome Association: the presentation of the "Pane e Camelie" project (promoted by the Compitese Cultural Centre with the contribution of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca) and "Tutti uguali, tutti diversi" (workshops, animated readings and games).
Discovering the new oil
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October will be the 'Frantoi aperti' weekend. Guided tours of the olive groves during the harvest and inside the mills during the pressing of the olives to extract the extra virgin oil are scheduled. There will also be a tasting panel with an award ceremony for the best new evo oil.
The complete programme and all logistical information (tickets, parking, venue map and contacts) are available at camelielucchesia.it.
