The lot chosen by Maestro Puccini is on the corner between Viale Michelangelo Buonarroti and Via Marco Polo, overlooking what is now Piazza Puccini.
The villa, located inside a garden with tall trees, develops longitudinally with two short transverse wings, on two levels:basement and raised ground floor. It is not simply a ground floor that has been raised as shown in the drawings of the architect Pilotti approved by the Municipality of Viareggio, but rather an actual floor under which another habitable floor exists, for the most part used as utility rooms, except for the Maestro’s study and library. A large stairway allows access to the main floor,for the family’s day-to-day living. The front door, divided by a beautiful Liberty-style window bearing the initials of the Maestro, divides the property almost symmetrically, into two main parts: living area on the left and sleeping area on the right.
The living area is connected to the ground floor, primarily used as utility rooms, by an interior staircase. The sleeping area is connected to the ground floor by a small wood staircase next to the Maestro’s bedroom.. This allowed Giacomo Puccini to go to his study, underneath his bedroom, at any time of the day or night, without being disturbed and without disturbing any other family members.
We also notice that the distribution of space was heavily influenced by the needs and wishes of the Maestro.
Several architectural solutions and many details of the building were taken from photographs the Maestro saw published in American magazines, especially “Bungalow Magazine”: the Maestro took note and then showed them to the designer so they could be realised: the living room ceiling with beams, the windows with English-style glazing, the bow window for the bedroom and study.
The main façade is embellished with double face claddinga first part in stone and a second in brick which identify the main floor. Here, the doors and windows feature stone frames.. At the height of the entablatures, beautiful pottery by Galileo Chini enhances the beauty and the elegance of the entire building.
The main floor is formed by a large living room with fireplace dedicated to receiving guests, a smaller dining room for the family placed close to a service area where the dishes arrived form the ground floor by an electrified serving hatch. The sleeping area comprises four bedrooms (belonging to the Maestro, Lady Elvira, their son Antonio and any guests) and three bathrooms, each with their own different coloured claddings.
The rear of the building is much simpler in terms of type and quality of construction materials.
Externally, a terracotta pavement runs along the entire Villa, bordered by a lower stone curb which collects water. From here depart a series of “paths inlaid with red bricks” which run through the garden.
Originally, the park was characterised by tall trees continuing the vegetation present in the pine forest opposite the side of Via Buonarroti. This vegetation, which has been abandoned for many years, has lost its original design especially in the trees used as fencing around the house which have become very tall plants leaving a completely unobstructed view of the lower part of the Villa.
The Villa presents two outer areas in which the Maestro often entertained guests and friends: one is an extension of the main living room, on the raised floor, an Oriental style veranda with a clear influence of the set designs of Galileo Chini.. Another external area wanted by the Maestro is on the ground floor, opposite the door of his study, where a short film of the twenties shows him sitting with family and friends.
