An extremely modern man, who understood the importance of "reputation" well before the advent of the social networks.
A curious and eclectic man, interested in all the arts, especially the visual ones, from which he allows himself to be contaminated. He himself is the author of cartoons worthy of the space authors of Lucca Comics and Games.
A man who likes novelties and beautiful things of which he becomes testimonial for marketing campaigns ante litteram.
A composer who understands the modernity and the need to be spectacular, in the tradition. He makes of melody his stylistic signature with works that are always easy to understand, appreciable and captivating for listeners.
Beloved and hated, classical and pop, after him the music will never be the same again.
He's Giacomo Puccini.

In the district of Lucca his houses, his musical instruments, objects, atmospheres, flavours and colours that were dear to him and that inspired his creativity and imagination can be found in many corners of the territory. From the villages immersed in the woods of the Serchio Valley, to the historical centre of Lucca, to the generous hills of Lucca, to the bright coasts of Versilia.
Many public and private institutions preserve the memory of the Maestro, for as many stages of an itinerary that connects the different places of Puccini.

A suggestive itinerary takes you to know the territory from a very particular point of view with the background of the arias of his most famous compositions and works.

The arias of Madame Butterfly composed on the piano in the house of the ancestors of Celle di Pescaglia, where the family originated.

An ancient 16th century house in the centre of the village that belonged to Giacomo Puccini´s ancestors. Thanks to the generosity of the daughters of Ramelde, Giacomo's favourite sister, who donated many precious relics, the old house is now a rich museum: photos, letters, portraits, musical scores, opera librettos, posters, the phonograph donated by Edison, and the piano on which part of the "Madame Butterfly" was composed.
 

The Mass of Glory, composed for the diploma essay and performed by an excited Giacomo on July 12, 1880, takes us to the church of San Paolino, a stone's throw from the house where he was born.

The Manon Lescaut, whose success allowed the Maestro to regain possession of the house where he was born in St. Lawrence's court where, among other memorabilia, the piano on which the opera was composed and the sumptuous costume worn by Maria Jeritza, in memory of the premiere of the Opera at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York (1926), are kept. Small and cosy environments where there is always room to welcome important guests, families and children with many cultural activities to discover a fantastic world of music and art.

Tosca, La Fanciulla del West, La Rondine, Il Trittico and La Turandot, the haughty voices or those in love with "his women" echo in the house on Lake Massaciuccoli, that "big bump" that was so dear to him for the tranquility and atmosphere so brilliant that inspired his work. The villa on the lake tells the story of a curious, creative man, with a refined artistic sensibility accompanied by a strong passion for life that translated into frequent excursions on the lake on small boats or with the modern motorboat of which he was proud, in rich dinners with friends at the club la Boheme or at the villa Ginori Lisci, in afternoons spent at the trendy cafes of Viareggio, on the liberty walk of the early '900.

 

(photo N. Ughi - U. Conti)