The Pisan June 2023 (Giugno Pisano 2023) will take place during the month of June, 2023, in the beautiful city of Pisa. The Pisan June is a series of events that take place every year during the month of June, in Pisa. The climax of the festival is represented by the celebrations held in honor of San Ranieri (Saint Rainerius), the patron saint of the city, on June 17. SHORT HISTORY Originally, Giugno Pisano included only the Luminara of Saint Rainerius, held on June 16, and the Palio of Saint Rainerius, held on the day of the saint, on June 17. In order to create a month of interesting events, the Battle of the Bridge (Gioco del Ponte) was also moved to June, on the last Saturday of the month. Over time, many other events were initiated, more or less linked to the patron saint of Pisa. Noteworthy are the recovered traditions of Mazzascudo, which takes place every year on May 28, in Piazza dei Cavalieri, and the Marriage with the Sea, which is held at the beginning of July. Although placed on different months, the two events usually open and close the Pisan June. Once every four years, Read more [...]
All Religious Feasts in Tuscany
Luminara di San Ranieri 2023
Luminara di San Ranieri 2023 will take place on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Pisa, as part of the series of events entitled Pisan June 2023. Luminara of Saint Rainerius is a candlelight festival dedicated to the patron saint of the city. On this occasion, the city lights up with thousands of candles, creating an evocative and unique atmosphere that seems to bring the visitors back in time. Each year, approximately 100,000 candles placed on wooden frames outline the architectural forms of the palaces, bridges, churches and towers located on the banks of the Arno River. Later in the evening, many of the candles will be placed on the river water, between the Fortezza Bridge and the Citadella Bridge, creating an enchanting play of lights and reflections. SHORT HISTORY The first official document attesting the tradition of illuminating the city of Pisa with oil lamps dates back to 1337. Before 1688, the feast was held on several occasions. Notable are the 1539 edition, in honor of Vittoria della Rovere, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and the wife of Grand Duke Ferdinando II, and the one of June 14, 1662, when the lights were set up in honor of Margherita Luisa, Read more [...]
Palio di San Ranieri 2023
Palio di San Ranieri 2023 will take place on Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Pisa, as part of the series of events entitled Pisan June 2023. Palio of Saint Rainerius (San Ranieri), also known as the Regatta of Saint Rainerius, is actually a rowing race held every year on June 17, along the Arno River, in honor of the patron saint of Pisa. SHORT HISTORY The first information about a regatta in Pisa dates back to the year 1292, when a palio was held in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. After the Battle of Lepanto of 1571, when the Order of Saint Stephen fought on water against the Ottomans and captured the pennant of the enemy, which is now kept in the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, the palio began to recall this event. Beginning with 1718, the palio was disputed on June 17, for the anniversary of Saint Rainerius. THE PALIO Palio di San Ranieri is preceded by a historical procession. The palio is disputed among 4 crews representing the 4 historical districts of the city, two of Tramontana and two of Mezzogiorno – San Francesco (yellow boat), San Martino (red boat), Santa Read more [...]
Festa della Rificolona 2023
Festa della Rificolona 2023 will take place on Thursday, September 7, 2023, in the beautiful city of Florence. Festa della Rificolona (Festival of the Paper Lanterns) is an event from the Florentine popular folklore, held every year on September 7, on the eve of the Nativity of Mary. On this occasion, young people of Florence wind along the streets of the city, carrying around colored paper lanterns. SHORT HISTORY The origins of the festival date back to the middle of the 17th century, and is due to the arrival in the city of many peasants from the nearby countryside to celebrate the Nativity of the Madonna in the Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata. The farmers also came to Florence to sell their products at the fair held on September 8 in the square in front of the basilica. To arrive on time, they left their homes before the break of dawn, and lit their way with lanterns of various shapes hanging on rods. After entering the city, the young Florentine people accompanied the villagers, making fun of their clothes, joking about the shapes of their women and trying to destroy their lanterns with spit wads. As time went on, Read more [...]
Luminara di Santa Croce 2023
Luminara di Santa Croce 2023 will take place on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, in the beautiful city of Lucca. Luminara di Santa Croce is a religious feast held on the eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated every year on September 14. In Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates the Cross itself, as an instrument of salvation. On this occasion, the buildings of Lucca are decorated with thousands of candles, a tradition now common only in Lucca and Pisa, for Luminara di San Ranieri. SHORT HISTORY The origins of the feast in Lucca are lost in time. The first mention of the date of September 14 appears in a document of 1118. On this day, Lucca celebrates the Holy Face (Volto Santo), a wooden crucifix measuring 2.24 x 2.65 meters, kept in a chapel built in 1482 by Matteo Civitali, in the Cathedral of San Martino. According to legend, the crucifix was sculpted by Nicodemus, who assisted Joseph of Arimathea in depositing Christ in his tomb, and was found and brought to Lucca in 742. At the beginning, the crucifix was deposited in the Basilica Read more [...]
Explosion of the Cart 2024
The Explosion of the Cart 2024 (Scoppio del Carro 2024) will take place on March 31, 2024, in Piazza del Duomo, in Florence. WHAT IS THE DATE FOR THE EXPLOSION OF THE CART 2024? As usual, the Explosion of the Cart 2024 will take place on Easter Sunday. In 2024, the Easter Sunday will fall on March 31. WHAT IS THE LOCATION FOR THE EXPLOSION OF THE CART 2024? The location for the Explosion of the Cart 2024 is the beautiful Piazza del Duomo, located in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, in Florence. SHORT HISTORY OF THE EXPLOSION OF THE CART The custom dates back to 1099, when the First Crusade was launched to free the city of Jerusalem. According to legend, Pazzino from the Pazzi family, a soldier from Florence, climbed first the walls of the Holy City, where he placed a Christian flag. For this act of valor, one of the leaders of the First Crusade, Godfrey of Bouillon, gave him three small pieces from the Holy Sepulcher. On Saturday, after the liberation of Jerusalem, the crusaders gathered in the Church of the Resurrection and, in devout prayer, gave everyone the Read more [...]
