The pleasures of Elisa’s summer: a grand international historical reenactment at Villa Reale.
In 1806 the Princess of Lucca and Piombino, Elisa Baciocchi Bonaparte, Napoleon’s eldest sister, bought the Orsetti’s country villa in Marlia and had the gardens and villa transformed into her royal summer residence.
We invite you to visit the Villa Reale and its Park as it was in 1810 when Elisa, now the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, spent the summer there with a group of talented guests to keep her and her family company.
Turn back the clock and meet Elisa and her husband, Felix Baciocchi and their young daughter Elisa Napoléone and 100 historical re-enactors from around the world, dressed in Napoleonic attire from 1810, performing, historically informing and enjoying the magnificent park and the newly restored Villa Reale. Marlia will ring with the music and laughter of 200 years ago when it was an oasis of pleasure and calm during the hot Tuscan summers.
Hear Paganini play magnificently as he did that summer, marvel at the Tableaux Vivant throughout the Villa with Elisa and her ladies in waiting and other members of her court as they play cards and heatedly discuss the politics of the times. You can watch the 113th line infantry regiment training, watch a fencing demonstration in the park and watch the youth play Blind Man’s Bluff on the lawn. Admire the horse-drawn carriages as the re-en– actors ride around the park and follow them as they promenade under the perfumed trees planted by Elisa and later introduced into gardens all over Tuscany.
The Association “Napoleon and Elisa: from Paris to Tuscany” presents this special day in order to better know the Grand Duchess Elisa and her life and times.
The organisation and artistic direction is by Margarita Martinez.
The horses and carriages are from the CentroIppico Marilla A.S.D.
The 100 historical re-enactors will all be dressed in Napoleonic clothes from 1810. The military re-enactors (10 soldiers and 2 officers) will train during the day in various locations around the Park.
From 1pm to 2.30pm all re-enactors will have lunch seated on the grass under the trees near the Lemon Garden. For the rest of the day they will follow these activities:
– Tableaux Vivants inside the Villa.
10.30am Paganini plays the violin after a short introduction about his life
Sketching in the gardens
NB – Please note that the general public is asked to not wear costumes on the day. Photos are permitted in the park but not inside the Villa Reale itself.
