Itineraries
The Coastline Versilia
Giacomo Puccini tour
Visit to Torre del Lago Puccini and the villa where Puccini spent most of his life and composed some of his greatest operas, including Madama Butterfly and Tosca. Visit to the Villa Puccini
We strongly advise you to take a ferry trip on Lake Massaciuccoli, listening to Puccini’s music.
Viareggio and Art Nouveau
Viareggio is a well-known seaside resort and also home of the famous Carnival of Viareggio (dating back to 1873) and its papier-mâché floats, which (since 1925) parade along the promenade known as the passeggiata a mare. The town can trace its roots back to the first half of the 16th century when it became the Republic of Lucca’s only access to the sea. The oldest building in Viareggio, known as the Torre Matilde, dates back to this time and was built by the Lucchesi in 1541 as a defence fortification from which to combat the constant menace of pirate raids. Nowadays it is popular mainly for the elegant shops in the beautiful street by the sea called Viale Margherita, its white sandy beaches and the many Art Nouveau buildings decorated with lovely ceramics designed by Galileo Chini.
Pietrasanta and the Marble Quarries
Pietrasanta is about 15 minutes from the coast, on the foothills of the Apuan Alps, and was a Roman settlement. Lucca, Pisa and Florence frequently fought over it because of its closeness to the sea and the mountains. It was Florence that won in the end but, ironically, Pietrasanta is now part of the Province of Lucca.
The town still has its medieval fortress and the Renaissance layout of its streets. The Gothic Cathedral of San Martino is entirely built with local marble.
Pietrasanta is close to marble quarries. Michelangelo came here to select blocks of marble and many other famous sculptors have chosen it as the ideal place for their studios and workshops.
We can arrange a visit to one of the marble workshops as well to one of the bronze foundries where they also make statues.
Image Gallery
