Torre del Lago Puccini

Torre del Lago Puccini is a captivating village near Viareggio, not far from Lucca and Pisa. It's named for the lakeside tower that was built here in the 1300s. The tower was originally called Torre Guinigi and then Torre del Turco, but was renamed in 1938 to honor the town's native son, Giacomo Puccini, composer of some of the world's best known operas.

The placid lake is almost idyllic. Skirted by woods and surrounded by low misty mountains, the picturesque tower stands right on the water's edge. There is a wooden pier and gazebo that lend a romantic air to the place. It's easy to see why Puccini chose the site as a tranquil retreat for concentrating on his music. The most popular attraction is the villa where the famous musician lived and composed his greatest works. The little chapel in the villa houses his tomb. A museum dedicated to his life and compositions is also housed in the villa.

Torre del Lago puts on a major music festival in its elaborate outdoor theatre, performing four of Puccini's operas every summer in the beautiful lake-side setting. The church of St. Giuseppe is also worth seeing. Built in the late eighteenth century, it has frescoes by the local painter Lanfranco Orlandi.