Torre del Lago, home of the Puccini Festival, is a favourite destination of opera lovers and tourists. The Festival welcomes about 40.000 spectators every year to its open-air theatre, just a few steps from the Villa Mausoleum where the most beloved composer of the 20th century lived and worked. The great open-air theatre allows audiences to enjoy any opera performance together with the surrounding environment: the stage opens out directly on the suggestive view of the MassaciuccoliLake and the Apuan Alps in the background. During the over seventy years of the Festival, the stage of Torre del Lago has hosted the most famous and acclaimed names of world opera.

Another important place to visit is the Cittadella del Carnevale, in Viareggio. That's where the craftsmen that work paper-pulp bring their creatures to life in time for the carnival in Viareggio, held in February. Here at Cittadella, from June to August is non-stop party with cultural events, concerts and shows.

If you visit Versilia in July instead, you may take the chance to go to Lucca on the Summer Festival. Lots of world-famous artists have performed here, to name a few: Peter Gabriel, Elton John, Alicia Keys and James Taylor.

Not to be forgotten is the Festival della Versiliana in Pietrasanta, that even if it has lost a bit of its charme, it often proposes very interesting performances on stage.

To keep updated with many events that take place in Tuscany, one of the best ways is the daily newspaper called "Il Tirreno", for updats regarding the events in the city of Viareggio instead you may visit the related website at www.viareggino.it.

The Istituto Linguistico Mediterraneo, founded in 1981, was one of the first schools of Italian in Italy and in Tuscany.. http://www.ilm.it