Celebrate Puccini in 2008

2008 marks the 150th anniversary of Puccini’s birth and there are numerous celebrations taking place throughout Italy. The opening of the Nuovo Gran Teatro at Torre del Lago will surely be the highlight, with its 3,200 seat open-air arena overlooking lake Massaciuccoli.

The festival opens on 11 July with a new production of Turandot directed by Maurizio Scaparro, and Tosca, Madame Butterfly and Edgar are also featured on the 2008 programme.

White Hat Tours offers packages to the Puccini festival at Torre del Lago, comprising accommodation, transfers and tickets. Prices range from:

- GBP 285 per person, for 2 nights in the 4-star hotel Napoleone near Lucca plus second category tickets and transfers to two opera performances; to
- GBP 663 per person, for 3 nights in the 4-star hotel San Luca Palace, located within the city walls of Lucca, plus top category tickets and transfers to three opera performances.

Return flights with British Airways and airport transfers can also be arranged. For details of all tours and Italian cultural events, visit Whitehattours.com.