Torre del Lago Puccini is a small town in northern Tuscany, near Viareggio, Lucca and Pisa. Located between Lake Massaciuccoli and the sea, it is famous for being the place where Puccini had a villa and for its Puccini summer festival at the open-air theater on the lake, one of the best summer music festivals in Italy.
Puccini called this area “paradise” and indeed the lake is still very calm and a good place for a relaxing vacation. Puccini converted an old lakeside watchtower into a villa, now a museum, and wrote many of his operas there. You will also see the city on the Torre del Lago list – the name Puccini has been added to the city name of Torre del Lago to honor the famous composer.
Marina di Torre del Lago on the sea has a promenade, restaurants, beaches and nightclubs during the summer. Lecciona Beach is one of the best gay beaches.
Puccini Festival and open-air theater
In July and August, the open-air theater by the lake hosts the Puccini Festival with performances of his operas. Concerts and ballet shows are also held in the theater. The theater is in a beautiful setting overlooking the lake and is surrounded by a park and sculpture garden. You can buy tickets on the Puccini Festival website or at the box office.
Torre del Lago Location
Torre del Lago is located in the Versilia area, in northern Tuscany, about 20 kilometers from Lucca and Pisa. It is four kilometers from the coastal town of Viareggio and a short distance from the sea on the Tuscan coast.
Where to stay in Torre del Lago
While most hotels are in the vicinity of Viareggio, there are a few houses with bed and breakfasts and a camp on the road between the lake and the city. Villa Rosy is a simple 3-star hotel near the sea, with a large garden and parking.
Get to Torre del Lago Puccini
Torre del Lago is served by a few regional trains on the coastal railway line between Genoa and Viareggio and the railway line from Pisa. The fastest trains reach Viareggio, where you can take bus lines 2 or 3 to the city and the lake. Pisa airport, 15 kilometers away, is the nearest airport (see map of airports in Italy). From the airport, take the train to Pisa, then a train to Torre del Lago. The train station is in the city, about a kilometer from the lake.
Villa Puccini Museum
The Villa Puccini Museum is located in the former villa of the composer. Inside you can see photos and relics of Puccini’s life, his piano, period furniture and the chapel with his tomb. The museum is open to visitors for 40-minute guided tours in the morning from 10 am to 12:40 pm There are afternoon hours most of the year, but these vary by season. During most of November, it is open only on Saturdays and Sundays. The entrance is € 7 per person.
Boat trips on Lake Massaciuccoli
During the summer, the boats offer excursions to the lakes that leave from the Belvedere in Torre del Lago, from 3 to 6 in the afternoon. Tours last about an hour and are a great way to see the lake and wetlands. Sometimes the boats also operate on weekends in late spring and early fall.
Near Torre del Lago Puccini
- Oasi di Massaciuccoli , on the other side of the lake, is a protected natural area with boardwalks through the wetlands area, bird-watching blinds and posters about the birds. In the city above there are Roman ruins and a small museum with Roman finds.
- On the hills above the lake, the Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Corsanico has an unusual monumental organ from the early 17th century in the loft that Puccini is said to have touched. You can listen to the organ at the summer music festival or at the Christmas music festival. The beautiful Romanesque church of San Pantaleo is also worth a visit. It holds a popular chamber music festival in the summer. We visit the churches on a tour with Serena Giovannoni.
- Viareggio is the largest coastal city in Tuscany. Viareggio is known for its Liberty-style villas, its beaches, and its promenade with cafes, shops, and seafood restaurants. It is also known as one of the best places to celebrate Carnival, with its spectacular parades of huge allegorical floats. You can take a cooking class in one of the best restaurants in Viareggio.
- Pisa is known for the leaning tower, but it also has several other interesting sights and attractions. Torre del Lago can be visited as a day trip from Pisa.
- The walled city of Lucca can also be visited as a day trip (or the other way around), though it requires a change of trains in Viareggio or Pisa unless you have a car. In Lucca there is another Puccini museum.
- Pietrasanta is a small town in the northern interior, a favorite with artists.
