Lake Massaciuccoli (Lago di Massaciuccoli in Italian) is a lake the Province of Lucca and the Province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. Its surface area is 6.9 km². It is located in the municipality of Massarosa, in Torre del Lago, a civil parish of Viareggio, and in Vecchiano, a municipality of Pisa Province. It is one of the largest remaining fragments of the large swamps and marshes that once covered entirely the coastal plain of Versilia. The composer Giacomo Puccini lived in a villa at Torre del Lago on the west side of the lake, and frequently hunted around the lake; the nearby village of Torre del Lago is sometimes mentioned with suffix "Puccini" in his honour.
The pictures I'm posting here are related to the east side of the lake, Vecchiano side.
In the Sixties an Seventies this zone was the recreational hub of Vecchiano municipality, thriving with restaurants, picnic areas an stilt houses for net fishisng, both on the lake and the surroundings canals.
Now the area is totally abandoned and neglected. The few houses still there are occupied by gipsies and illegal immigrant who keep the area unsafe. It's a real shame, because it's a place of astounding natural beauty.
As you can see, stilt houses are falling to pieces. They are wooden buildings an they have not been upkept for decades, so it's a miracle they are still standing.
Vegetation uncontrolled overgrowth is engulfing everything.
The only part taht is kept cleas is the backside, some 20 or 30 meters from the lake shore: is made of cultivated fields, and farmers keep their land tidy.
In you stand in this point you can ear concert from the other lake shore as clearly as if you were in the audience.
That's all for now, I hope you'll enjoy.
