Vissi d'Arte Jazz

Jazz in Puccini's footsteps

Vissi d'Arte Jazz is the festival bringing jazz to Torre del Lago Puccini, the beloved district of Viareggio (Province of Lucca, Tuscany) overlooking Lake Massaciuccoli, where Giacomo Puccini lived and composed many of his masterpieces. The title, taken from the famous aria in Tosca, captures the spirit of the event: a dialogue between the great Puccini operatic tradition and the expressive language of contemporary jazz.

A local cultural landmark

The festival is promoted by the Municipality of Viareggio in collaboration with the Puccini Festival Foundation, taking place in iconic venues of Versilia's musical culture: from the Belvedere and the Butterfly Garden to the Music Park of the Gran Teatro Giacomo Puccini. The artistic direction is entrusted to two internationally acclaimed musicians, trumpeter Andrea Tofanelli and pianist Riccardo Arrighini, who curate a program each year that unites great soloists, chamber ensembles, choirs, bands, and big bands.

The 2026 Program

The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday, June 20th, and Sunday, June 21st, with four free-admission events:

• Saturday, June 20th, 6:30 PM — Dedicated to Marino Peruzzi: A Life for Music, featuring Andrea Tofanelli (trumpet), Alessandro Rizzardi (sax), Andrea Garibaldi (piano), Nino Pellegrini (double bass), and Michele Vannucci (drums), including the presentation of the "Memorial Marino Peruzzi" Award.
• Saturday, June 20th, 9:30 PM — Moonlight Concert in the Park, blending jazz and pop, with the "Giuseppe Pardini" Musical Corps conducted by Maestro Francesco Filippeddu.
• Sunday, June 21st, 10:30 AM — Miles & Brass matinée, a tribute to Miles Davis on the centenary of his birth, featuring the Diffusion Brass Quintet & Drums with special guest Andrea Tofanelli.
• Sunday, June 21st, 6:30 PM — Supreme Night with the Riccardo Arrighini Trio.

A tribute to musical memory

The emotional heart of the festival is the "Memorial Marino Peruzzi" Award, a recognition dedicated to prominent figures in Italian jazz. The well-established format alternates evening concerts with more intimate moments and matinées, showcasing both major names and local musical talent, such as regional marching bands. For those visiting Versilia in the summer, Vissi d'Arte Jazz is the perfect opportunity to discover Torre del Lago not only as the home of melodrama but also as a vibrant stage for original music, set against one of the most evocative landscapes in Tuscany.