Giacomo Puccini was born into a musical family in Lucca on 22 December 1858, and as a boy he sang in the choir of the Cathedral of San Martino before going on to study at the conservatory in Milan. His first opera, ‘Le Villi’, was performed in 1884, and for the next forty years, until his death in 1924, Puccini composed some of the most enduring works in the opera repertoire. In honour of the composer, the annual Puccini Festival is held each summer in Torre del Lago near Lucca on the peaceful shores of Lake Massaciuccoli. Based in Lucca itself, we shall attend two performances as part of the 2026 Festival, and discover the art and architecture of this charming Tuscan town.