We have friends visiting from Germany. Moira and Bernhard went to hear Puccini in Lucca last night and were keen to visit his house by the lake, so we set off for nearby Torre del Lago this morning.
Puccini's house at Torre del Lago
Puccini first went to Torre del Lago in 1891 and had his house built in 1899. This house is still standing and is almost as he left it. You can see the piano where he composed Manon Lescaut, La Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Fanciulla del West, La Rondine and Il Trittico. His house is full of photos and paintings of the composer and friends who visited him, and everday things from his time spent here. His hunting room is there with his gun collection and some shooting trophies. It is as though he has just stepped out to enjoy a walk beside the water.
The chapel in the house where his body and those of his wife, son and daughter-in-law are buried is a beautiful room decorated in Art Nouveau style, as is much of the rest of the house. Lots of his artist friends contributed to the lovely decoration in the house. My camera behaved itself and respected the “No photo” sign. Just as well, as we discovered that the delightful lady who was guiding us through the house was Simonetta Puccini, the composer’s granddaughter. She was a charming host and we had her all to ourselves. It made the visit even more special.
Simonetta Puccini with Alkira and Lukas
It is easy to see why Puccini loved living here. The lake is serene and peaceful and must have been a wonderful inspiration for the composer.
the lake with our mountains in the background
the lake is a haven for birds
a mother duck with her babies
preening
one of the boats that plies the lake
a tranquil spot
a pretty restaurant by the lake
the entrance to the outdoor theatre where there are performances in the summer
the outdoor theatre
Puccini by the lake
Giacomo Puccini
Thank you Simonetta Puccini for making our visit so memorable.
For more information – http://www.giacomopuccini.it