In 1896 in Torre del Lago Salvatore Orlando became acquainted with Giacomo Puccini. The Maestro had recently moved to the hamlet where he wrote most of his famous Operas. Thus began a friendship between the two which was going to last over a quarter of a century.

Puccini was a regular guest at Villa Orlando: the two often went together to shoot coots on the lake and exchanged letters on hunting and how to preserve the already threatened natural environment. The old piano on which Puccini sometimes played is still preserved in the music room, along with other memorabilia, autographs, manuscripts and period photos.

Today Villa Orlando and its garden are regularly home to concerts, conferences, art exhibitions and events attended by personalities from politics, art, music and entertainment. The list of past and present visitors includes Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Josè Cura, Katia Ricciarelli, Franco Zeffirelli, Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Fred Astaire and many many others.