The city is the birthplace of the opera composer Giacomo Puccini, and churches host nightly concerts.

BBC: Best city for spring 2011: Lucca, Italy

In 1926, Arturo Toscanini conducted the first performance of Giacomo Puccini's opera "Turandot" at La Scala, Milan.

CNN: Friday,

In 1918, "Gianni Schicchi, " a one-act opera by Giacomo Puccini, was first performed at New York's Metropolitan opera.

CNN: Monday,

In a slightly more traditional vein, Spoleto presented a double bill of obscure verismo one-acts, Umberto Giordano's "Mese Mariano" (1910) and Giacomo Puccini's first opera, "Le Villi" (1884).

WSJ: Ghost Stories Sung | Spoleto Festival USA | By Heidi Waleson