Statue of Giacomo Puccini

At the centre of Piazza Cittadella stands the bronze statue of Giacomo Puccini, installed just a few steps from his birthplace, now transformed into a museum. Created in the 90s by sculptor Vito Tongiani, it depicts the composer sitting casually on a chair with a cigarette in his hand. This choice contrasts with more traditional and solemn statues, as here Puccini appears in a familiar, almost intimate posture that reflects his bohemian character and his connection to everyday life, often at the heart of his operas, while Piazza Cittadella itself forms the heart of the district linked to the composer. This small, peaceful square provides access to Corte San Lorenzo, where the house in which Puccini was born in 1858 is located, and today this museum allows visitors to discover the early years of the man who would become one of the greatest Italian opera composers. The author of masterpieces such as La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot, Giacomo Puccini was born and raised in Lucca before pursuing his musical training in Milan. His style, which combined intense lyricism and realism, profoundly influenced the history of opera at the end of the 19th century, with the statue paying tribute to the city’s most illustrious son, installed here in the very square where his journey began.