Page 325 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

TUSC AN Y  323

One of many seaside cafés lining the waterfront in the popular beach resort of Viareggio
3 Bagni di Lucca in the 18th century, this town Puccini (1858–1924). He and his
is one of the most interesting, wife are buried in their former
Lucca. * 7,400. @ n Via E. Wipple
c/o Chiesa Inglese (0583 80 57 45). with a wide range of spa archi- home, now the Museo Villa
( Sat. tecture, from Neo-Classical to Puccini, a small museum that
Art Nouveau establishments. features the piano on which
All over Tuscany there are hot the maestro composed many
springs of volcanic origin, like 4 Viareggio of his works. Equal prominence
Bagni di Lucca. The Romans is given to the villa’s original
first exploited the springs and Lucca. * 65,000. V @ n Viale fittings, including the gun room
built bath complexes where Carducci 10 (0584 96 22 33). ( Thu. that housed Puccini’s hunting
army veterans who settled rifle. Lago Massaciuccoli, a
in the area could relax. More Known for its carnival, held in nature reserve for rare and
spas came into prominence January and early February, this migrant birds, provides a
in the Middle Ages and the is also the most popular of the pretty backdrop for open-air
Renaissance, and they have resorts on the Versilia coast. performances of Puccini’s works.
continued to be recommended Its famous “Liberty” (Art Nouveau)
for relieving a variety of style of architecture can be seen E Museo Villa Puccini
ailments, such as arthritis. in the grand hotels, villas and Piazzale Belvedere Puccini 226.
Tuscan spas really came into cafés built in the 1920s after the Tel 0584 34 14 45. Open Mon pm–
their own in the early 19th resort’s original boardwalk and Sun. Closed Nov, 25 Dec. & 7
century, when Bagni di Lucca timber chalets went up in
reached its heyday as one of flames in 1917. The finest
Europe’s most fashionable spas, example of the architecture is
frequented by emperors, kings the Gran Caffè Margherita at
and aristocrats. Visitors came the end of Passeggiata
not only for thermal cures, Margherita, designed by the
but also for the Casino (1837), prolific father of Italian Art
one of Europe’s first licensed Nouveau, Galileo Chini.
gambling houses. These days
the town is rather sleepy, and its 5 Torre del Lago
main sights are the 19th-century
monuments, including the Neo- Puccini
Gothic English Church (1839) Lucca. * 11,000. V @ n Viale
on Via Crawford and the Kennedy 2 (0584 35 98 93).
Cimitero Anglicano (Protestant ( Fri.
Cemetery) on Via Letizia.
A glorious avenue of lime trees,
Environs the Via dei Tigli, connects
Southeast of Bagni di Lucca lies Viareggio with Torre del Lago
another popular spa town, Puccini, once the home of the Near Puccini’s lakeside home at Torre del
Montecatini Terme. Developed opera composer Giacomo Lago Puccini

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