The place, known as Piè Magnano, can be easily reached on foot from the
Visitors Centre of the Orecchiella Park with a short walk of about 2 km through a beech wood. The botanical garden gives visitors as well as scientists and specialists the chance to observe, study and compare the plants that are kept there; its aim is also to protect and collect information about the Apennine flora in the region of Lucca. In the phenological garden, one of three present in Italy, observations on the different growth of identical plants placed in different contexts all over Europe are carried out: Prof. Stefani of the Scuola Normale in Pisa is the scientific director of this project. Within the garden, the "Hortus Sanitatis" is a collection of specimens of medicinal plants used today and in the past by the population of Garfagnana. The "Xiloteca", instead, is a collection of woods from native trees. Besides, the garden is equipped with a scientific laboratory and a meteorological station that analyses rain water for the A.S.L., the Ministry of Environment and the provincial Arpat.