Parks and nature reserves Orto Botanico The Lucca botanical garden was created in 1820 by Maria Luisa of Bourbon with the aim of experimenting with the rooting of new botanical species. The Municipal Botanical Garden of Lucca is a scientific institution. Little by little it began to expand, to arrive at its present appearance: the 'residence' of a wide range of floral organisms. It was managed by the best professors. The Botanical Garden has an area of about 2 hectares and is home to hundreds of plant species. It became the property of the municipality of Lucca in 1901.