This lake in west Tuscany lies on the coastal plain between Pisa and Viareggio, at the foot of the Apuan Alps. It has a surface area of seven square kilometres and is only three metres deep. The surrounding agricultural land was reclaimed by drainage programmes begun in 1740. The lake is used for fishing and wild fowl shooting, and also for the marsh straw and peat beds. Torre del Lago Puccini is on the west side of the lake, surrounded by green slopes and extending as far as the sea where there is a beautiful soft, sandy beach. This part of Tuscany was once a lagoon but only the lake remains to remind you of this. You can visit the villa where the world famous composer lived, and the chapel where he is buried