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The Church of St Joseph was destroyed by the retreating Nazis. After reconstruction, a bas-relief by Serafino Beconi dedicated to the Liberation was placed there in 1983, retracing the main events of the war in Torre del Lago.
The parish church of Torre del Lago, dedicated to St. Joseph, dates back to the end of the 18th century. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and oldest in the area, thanks to the frescoes by Torrelaga painter Ferruccio Orlandi.
Giacomo Puccini's funeral took place here on 29 November 1926.
On 8 September 1944, fleeing Germans undermined the church, damaging the bell tower (built in 1904) and the apse.
On the 11th, the British troops arrived and the city was liberated.
The church was rebuilt in 1951.
On 11 September 1983, a bas-relief by Serafino Beconi (1925-1997) describing village life in the summer of 1844 was placed on the north wall.
It depicts, interspersed with allegorical figures of animals, bombings, displacements, cattle raids, labour raids, funerals of the dead.
It also recalls Velio Bini and Lelio Gori, who were involved in the massacre at Valpromaro on 30 June; Ettore Tofanelli, who was sent for deportation and killed on 19 August in the massacre at San Quirico di Valleriana; and Guido Francesconi, who was killed by the Germans on 7 September for opposing their harassment.
The exploits of the Padule partisans, led by Silvio Orlandi, are also recounted.
Address
Via Aurelia, 165 - Torre del Lago - Viareggio