Caffe Di Simo (former Cafe Caselli ), Lucca
Throughout his life Giacomo Puccini enjoyed close friendship of Alfredo Caselli, owner of a caf茅 in Via Fillungo, in the heart of the historic center of Lucca. Caselli inherited this place, along with the adjoining spice shop, from his father Carlo.
A lover and patron of the arts, Caselli was one of the central figures of the Lucchese cultural scene of the 20th century. At some point, his caf茅 was among the largest cultural centers of Italian artistic Bohemia, frequented by the likes of musicians Gaetano Luporini and Alfredo Catalani, poets Giovanni Pascoli and Gino Custer De Nobili, painter Lorenzo Viani, and composer Gustavo Giovannetti.
In large part, these prominent personalities, among whom was also Giacomo Puccini, owned their friendships to the caf茅's owner. The relationship between him and Puccini was rather fraternal 鈥� Caselli often followed the composer throughout Europe to attend various premieres of his operas.
Presently called the Antico Caff猫 Di Simo, the joint is largely unchanged from what it used to be 100 years ago, featuring much the same furniture and original decorations.
A lover and patron of the arts, Caselli was one of the central figures of the Lucchese cultural scene of the 20th century. At some point, his caf茅 was among the largest cultural centers of Italian artistic Bohemia, frequented by the likes of musicians Gaetano Luporini and Alfredo Catalani, poets Giovanni Pascoli and Gino Custer De Nobili, painter Lorenzo Viani, and composer Gustavo Giovannetti.
In large part, these prominent personalities, among whom was also Giacomo Puccini, owned their friendships to the caf茅's owner. The relationship between him and Puccini was rather fraternal 鈥� Caselli often followed the composer throughout Europe to attend various premieres of his operas.
Presently called the Antico Caff猫 Di Simo, the joint is largely unchanged from what it used to be 100 years ago, featuring much the same furniture and original decorations.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Caffe Di Simo (former Cafe Caselli ) on Map
Sight Name: Caffe Di Simo (former Cafe Caselli )
Sight Location: Lucca, Italy (See walking tours in Lucca)
Sight Type: Food/Drink
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Lucca, Italy (See walking tours in Lucca)
Sight Type: Food/Drink
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Lucca, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Lucca
Creating your own self-guided walk in Lucca is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Lucca Introduction Walking Tour
Lucca is called many things: a city of arts, a city of churches, gardens, towers. Most of all it is known for its walls. From Roman times until now the walls have stood. It is the only city in Italy that has kept its walls intact.
The inner walled city is laid out in the ancient Roman grid plan. The Piazza San Michele is the site of the old forum. Bits of the Roman amphitheater can be found in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
The inner walled city is laid out in the ancient Roman grid plan. The Piazza San Michele is the site of the old forum. Bits of the Roman amphitheater can be found in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Lucca's City Wall and Gates
As one of Italy's Citt脿 d'arte's (arts towns), Lucca is famous, among other things, for its well-preserved ancient walls encircling the historic center. From about 570 AD until 1847 the city had been the center of the Longobard administration and the capital of old Tuscany, and as such required a defense system to render it an impenetrable fortress.
Back in the Middle Ages, the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Back in the Middle Ages, the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Puccini's Lucca
One of the greatest musical talents of mankind, Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, was born and spent a substantial part of his life in the Tuscan city of Lucca. Today the legacy of Puccini resonates all over the world and even more so here.
Puccini's ancestors, also musicians, moved to Lucca in 1719. The future maestro was born in a house that had belonged to his family since 1815 鈥� Casa... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Puccini's ancestors, also musicians, moved to Lucca in 1719. The future maestro was born in a house that had belonged to his family since 1815 鈥� Casa... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles