On the 16th of June each year Pisa is home to the Luminara of San Ranieri Festival. Commemorating and celebrating the city’s Patron Saint, San Ranieri, it sees the whole town lit up magically by tens of thousands of candles upon nightfall. Dating back to 1688, the festival is said to trace its origins to when a simple urn containing the ashes of San Ranieri in a local cathedral was transferred to a more decorative modern urn by order of the Grand Duke of Tuscany.
During the process of transferring the ashes, a procession of Christians with candles walked alongside it as a mark of respect. Today, these candles make an appearance once more each year, all over the city, to celebrate their patron saint. If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and are planning a trip during June, you are sure to enjoy the stunning spectacle that this creates!
In order to illuminate the city, special white wooden frames are attached to the frames of windows, bridges, churches and street lamps and are lit up by small glass lamps of burning candles or oil called ‘lumini’. Nowadays, the number of candles and oil lamps has increased to over 120,000 and they are used to accentuate the lovely historical facades and features of the city. More lights are placed, floating, in the River Arno, making it glow beautifully as it reflects the flickering lights.
Later on, around midnight, a spectacular fireworks display is set off from the Cittadella Vecchia, which is a fortress overlooking the city and the riverside is the best place to take it in, so stay where you are as you admire the candles, as you'll get the best view of the fireworks there too. The next afternoon, on the actual feast day, there are more festivities and, in particular, the Regatta of San Ranieri.
So, if you find yourself in Pisa on Saturday, June 16th, this year, don't miss out on this typical and vibrant Tuscan celebration!
In order to illuminate the city, special white wooden frames are attached to the frames of windows, bridges, churches and street lamps and are lit up by small glass lamps of burning candles or oil called ‘lumini’. Nowadays, the number of candles and oil lamps has increased to over 120,000 and they are used to accentuate the lovely historical facades and features of the city. More lights are placed, floating, in the River Arno, making it glow beautifully as it reflects the flickering lights.
Later on, around midnight, a spectacular fireworks display is set off from the Cittadella Vecchia, which is a fortress overlooking the city and the riverside is the best place to take it in, so stay where you are as you admire the candles, as you'll get the best view of the fireworks there too. The next afternoon, on the actual feast day, there are more festivities and, in particular, the Regatta of San Ranieri.
So, if you find yourself in Pisa on Saturday, June 16th, this year, don't miss out on this typical and vibrant Tuscan celebration!
