Torre del Lago is a small town between Lake Massaciuccoli and the sea. It's famous for its summer Puccini festival in the outdoor theater on the lake. Puccini called this area "paradise" and in fact the lake is still very peaceful and a good place for a relaxing vacation. He turned an old watch tower by the lake into his villa, now a museum, and wrote many of his operas there. Recently the name Puccini has been added to the town name of Torre del Lago to honor the famous composer.

The Massaciuccoli Lake basin and the Macchia Lucchese are part of the Parco Naturale di Migliarino - San Rossore -Massaciuccoli. This unusual ecosystem is composed of a wide variety of highly interesting flora as well as numerous fauna.

The Lago di Massaciuccoli, with the marshy area and drainage canals that surround it,  constitutes a humid coastal area whose waters are rich with fish species and rare vegetation. The bog grass (Cladium mariscus) and the thin cane (Phragmites australis) are ideal for passing and migratory birds to build their nests.

If you are an opera lover, you'll want to schedule time  at Torre del Lago,  to attend one of the many performances of Madam Butterfly, Turandot, Boheme, Tosca and other operas  written by Puccini.

From Viareggio to Torre del Lago enjoy the glorious avenue of Lime Trees "Viale dei Tigli". Torre del Lago became famous in the early 1900's by virtue of the presence of the world renowned opera composer Giacomo Puccini, whose home was built on the shore lake of Massaciuccoli.  Here he composed many of his masterpieces until his death in 1924.

Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924) Italian Modern Era Composer Born: Lucca, Italy, December 22, 1858. Died: Brussels, Belgium, November 29, 1924.

Puccini was born in Lucca next to the Massaciuccoli's Lake into a musical family. An uncle taught him piano. He studied at the Milan Conservatory. His first successful opera was Manon Lescaut in 1893. He wrote 12 operas which remain in the repertory of the leading opera houses today. He had a great gift of melody, dramatic harmony and theatrical flair.