EVENTS
Lucca and Pisa offer various events all along the year. Some of them are internationally known:
Lucca is well known for its antique stores synonym of quality and smartly all over the world. Every 3rd weekend of the month there is an Antique Market in the historical center.
An important event at the beginning of the year is Viareggio's Carnival (2nd week-end of February to 2nd week-end of March). Huge floats with caricatures of politicians and other prominent figures pass down every week-end the Viareggio seafront, accompanied by thousands of visitors. It is, after Venice, the most important carnival of Italy.
The favourable weather of Lucca has surely influenced all lovers of ornamental gardens. The huge parks surrounding the Villas of Lucca are the best evidence (look "Things to do").
One flower, more than any other, has been cared for with a particular attention: the camellia. Since the 17th century experts and amateurs loved to cultivate hundreds of different species of camellias in and around Lucca. The exhibition Antiche Camelia della Lucchesia (ancient camellias of the territory of Lucca) takes place every 1st, 2nd, and 3rd week-end in March in a suggestive little village closed to Lucca. S.Andrea di Compito offers the visitors a fantastic exhibition: thousands of flowers blooming on centuries old camellia bushes and trees, surrounded by stone walls and houses.
The Puccini Festival di Torre del Lago (22 July - 22 August approximately). Every year worldwide famous musicians perform Puccini's operas in honour of Giacomo Puccini, Lucca's famous composer, in an open-air arena overlooking the Massacciuccoli Lake - (15 km from Nozzano Castello).
In summer and until the end of October visitors can enjoy many shows, such as the Lucca Summer Festival, where the most famous national and international pop singers perform. The exhibitions/performances/concerts take place in the large "Piazza Napoleone", the very heart of Lucca.
During the first week of November Lucca attracts young visitors with its Lucca Comics & Games exhibition that in 2006 celebrated its 40th anniversary! For five days the piazzas, walls and buildings of the whole city center are involved and crowded with exhibitors of comics and the collectors' stuff that has to do with it.
Other events are more linked to history, to certain ceremonies and customs, especially those dating back to Middle Age. Sometimes they have religious origins, sometimes pagan. Some of them are listed here in a chronological order:
Saint Zita's day festival (25-27 April). In honour of Saint Zita, one of Lucca's patron saints, some roads and piazzas of Lucca are decorated with rare and precious plants and flowers. And the Roman Amphitheatre becomes a big flower market.
The Palio dei Micci (donkey race) is the most important historical-folklore event in the Province of Lucca. Eight city-districts participate. It takes place on the first Sunday in May. By nature it plays an authoritative part in the historical traditions of Tuscany.
More than two thousand costumed figures take to the city streets on Palioday dressed in splendid costumes as princes and queens, warriors and chancellors knights, scholars, jesters and peasants, to animate the most beautiful spring festivity, a fairy-tale day. The rivalry among the districts comes to its culmination in the Palio: the donkey race.
The district factions, who have Tuscan blood in their veins and therefore love competition, participate in this moment with intensity and emotion that infects even the most disenchanted spectators.
The festival of the Luminara di San Ranieri (16 June) and the Festa del Ponte (19 June) in Pisa have medieval origins: the protagonist is the river Arno lit by 70.000 candles, which are put on the buildings and bridges of the "Lungarno" (the Arno embankment). During the festival the waters of the river are full of floating lights. For futher information, please visit Pisa.turismo.toscana
Lucca is known for its September month, full of special events. One of the most interesting is the Middle Age Revival of Nozzano Castello (1-4 September). For three days the little castle village of Nozzano Castello goes back to Middle Age and houses minstrels, fire-eaters, knights and noblewomen of the 15th century. A magnificent historical celebration in the suggestive scenery of a Middle Age village and its castle.
The Luminara di Santa Croce (13 September) or "Holiday of the Holy Face" is Lucca's most important religious holiday. On this event a big procession moves from the oldest church of Lucca to the Cathedral, where the "Holy Face" (Volto Santo) is located, the most important relic of the city, whose feet even the crusaders kissed. The procession is followed by several figurants wearing Middle Age dresses and costumes, and the town is lit by thousands of candles. The holiday ends up with fireworks around midnight.
Lucca and Pisa offer various events all along the year. Some of them are internationally known:
Lucca is well known for its antique stores synonym of quality and smartly all over the world. Every 3rd weekend of the month there is an Antique Market in the historical center.
An important event at the beginning of the year is Viareggio's Carnival (2nd week-end of February to 2nd week-end of March). Huge floats with caricatures of politicians and other prominent figures pass down every week-end the Viareggio seafront, accompanied by thousands of visitors. It is, after Venice, the most important carnival of Italy.
The favourable weather of Lucca has surely influenced all lovers of ornamental gardens. The huge parks surrounding the Villas of Lucca are the best evidence (look "Things to do").
One flower, more than any other, has been cared for with a particular attention: the camellia. Since the 17th century experts and amateurs loved to cultivate hundreds of different species of camellias in and around Lucca. The exhibition Antiche Camelia della Lucchesia (ancient camellias of the territory of Lucca) takes place every 1st, 2nd, and 3rd week-end in March in a suggestive little village closed to Lucca. S.Andrea di Compito offers the visitors a fantastic exhibition: thousands of flowers blooming on centuries old camellia bushes and trees, surrounded by stone walls and houses.
The Puccini Festival di Torre del Lago (22 July - 22 August approximately). Every year worldwide famous musicians perform Puccini's operas in honour of Giacomo Puccini, Lucca's famous composer, in an open-air arena overlooking the Massacciuccoli Lake - (15 km from Nozzano Castello).
In summer and until the end of October visitors can enjoy many shows, such as the Lucca Summer Festival, where the most famous national and international pop singers perform. The exhibitions/performances/concerts take place in the large "Piazza Napoleone", the very heart of Lucca.
During the first week of November Lucca attracts young visitors with its Lucca Comics & Games exhibition that in 2006 celebrated its 40th anniversary! For five days the piazzas, walls and buildings of the whole city center are involved and crowded with exhibitors of comics and the collectors' stuff that has to do with it.
Other events are more linked to history, to certain ceremonies and customs, especially those dating back to Middle Age. Sometimes they have religious origins, sometimes pagan. Some of them are listed here in a chronological order:
Saint Zita's day festival (25-27 April). In honour of Saint Zita, one of Lucca's patron saints, some roads and piazzas of Lucca are decorated with rare and precious plants and flowers. And the Roman Amphitheatre becomes a big flower market.
The Palio dei Micci (donkey race) is the most important historical-folklore event in the Province of Lucca. Eight city-districts participate. It takes place on the first Sunday in May. By nature it plays an authoritative part in the historical traditions of Tuscany.
More than two thousand costumed figures take to the city streets on Palioday dressed in splendid costumes as princes and queens, warriors and chancellors knights, scholars, jesters and peasants, to animate the most beautiful spring festivity, a fairy-tale day. The rivalry among the districts comes to its culmination in the Palio: the donkey race.
The district factions, who have Tuscan blood in their veins and therefore love competition, participate in this moment with intensity and emotion that infects even the most disenchanted spectators.
The festival of the Luminara di San Ranieri (16 June) and the Festa del Ponte (19 June) in Pisa have medieval origins: the protagonist is the river Arno lit by 70.000 candles, which are put on the buildings and bridges of the "Lungarno" (the Arno embankment). During the festival the waters of the river are full of floating lights. For futher information, please visit Pisa.turismo.toscana
Lucca is known for its September month, full of special events. One of the most interesting is the Middle Age Revival of Nozzano Castello (1-4 September). For three days the little castle village of Nozzano Castello goes back to Middle Age and houses minstrels, fire-eaters, knights and noblewomen of the 15th century. A magnificent historical celebration in the suggestive scenery of a Middle Age village and its castle.
The Luminara di Santa Croce (13 September) or "Holiday of the Holy Face" is Lucca's most important religious holiday. On this event a big procession moves from the oldest church of Lucca to the Cathedral, where the "Holy Face" (Volto Santo) is located, the most important relic of the city, whose feet even the crusaders kissed. The procession is followed by several figurants wearing Middle Age dresses and costumes, and the town is lit by thousands of candles. The holiday ends up with fireworks around midnight.
