The Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago is an ever-popular fixture in our summer opera programme. Performances include last year’s staging of Tosca, La fanciulla del West and a rarely seen performance of Le Villi, Puccini’s first opera, written as a struggling and almost destitute young composer after his graduation from the Conservatory of Music in Milan. This is performed as a double bill with Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.


Thu 22 Jul Afternoon arrival in Pisa and transfer to Lucca to check in at the 4-star Hotel Ilaria, built within the beautiful Renaissance walls of the town, birthplace of Puccini, and just 40 minutes from Torre del Lago where the festival takes place. Welcome drink in the hotel.

Fri 23 Jul Morning walking tour of Lucca, its charming churches, palaces and streets built within Renaissance city walls. We visit the Piazza Anfiteatro, constructed on the site of a Roman theatre, and visit the 13th century Duomo and the Pisan Romanesque church of San Michele in Foro with an eccentric façade of twisted columns. Welcome lunch in a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure. Transfer to the evening’s performance at the Puccini Festival’s new theatre.

Sat 24 Jul Late morning excursion to the Tuscan Hills, including a visit to the Villa Reale of Marlia, whose spectacular gardens include a water-theatre, garden theatre and an art-deco style flower garden. Some free time is given for lunch, before your return to the hotel. In the late afternoon we transfer to Torre del Lago to visit Puccini’s villa on the shore of Lake Massaciuccoli. Dinner is arranged in a local restaurant before this evening’s performance.

Sun 25 Jul Day at leisure for independent exploration of Lucca. Late afternoon transfer to Torre del Lago for dinner in a local restaurant before this evening’s performance.

Mon 26 Jul Transfer to Pisa airport for your homeward journey.

Flights: British Airways

Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.