7 Summer Events in and Around Pisa, Italy
There are many different events that take place in and around Pisa every summer. From food festivals to giant fireworks displays, there is sure to be something to entertain you and your family. Live music and even a Star Wars convention take place in Pisa, so watch for special events around you. In the fall, Lucca hosts one of the largest comicon events in the world! Events such as this continue in and around Pisa year-round, but I’m going to highlight some of the bigger events that take place each summer. A lot of times different Facebook groups such as Expats and Friends and Pisa will post about events happening and may even get together as a group to celebrate.
Luminara di San Ranieri (Pisa)
One of the biggest festivals in Pisa and the surrounding areas, this event is not to be missed. Every June 16th there is an extraordinary fireworks display on the Arno River starting at 11 pm. I was blown away last year when the city was able to put on the festival for the first time since the beginning of COVID.
The windows of almost all of the buildings along the river are adorned with candles to add to the celebration. There are over 70,000 candles that add to the twinkling ambiance of the city. This tradition dates back to 1688 when the remains of Saint Ranieri and relics were carried to the cathedral dedicated to the saint. This date marks the birth of the Luminara celebration.
On June 17th, the celebration continues with a regatta on the river. The race is between the four districts of Pisa.
Pisa becomes very crowded for the celebration, so I recommend arriving early to stake out a spot along the river to enjoy the fireworks. The side streets off Corso Italia tend to be less crowded and are easier to traverse if you want to avoid the more crowded areas.
When: June 16th, fireworks at 11 pm, weekend events to follow
Walk the walls of Pisa
One great activity to take part in is walking the walls around Pisa. You can do it either independently or take guided tours. Some of the tours take place at night while others are during the daylight hours and highlight different historically important landmarks around the city. This is a fun, affordable summer activity.
There are 4 main entrances to the walls and there is even a phone app that gives an interactive tour. Find out more here.
The walls surrounding Pisa are some of the oldest in Italy that are still mostly standing. They were built with the purpose of protecting the cathedral as well as the weaker points of the city from a military point of view. Over time, they began to deteriorate, but have since undergone restoration, allowing the public to walk along them.
Different tours and costs can be found here
Find more free and affordable things to do in Pisa here.
Puccini Festival (Torre del Lago)
One popular summer event near Pisa is the Puccini festival in a village near Viareggio, Torre del Lago. It is a celebration of the music composed by Puccini, but in recent years it has expanded to host events such as ballets and even pop music.
Puccini was born in Lucca in 1858 and he moved to Torre de Lago at the end of the 19th century in search of a peaceful place to live and allow his creativity to flourish.
This year (2023) the festival will take place from July 14th – August 26th. Find out more information here.
Torre del Lago is accessible by train from Pisa Centrale.
Lucca Summer Festival
The Lucca Summer Festival occurs over two weekends in June and hosts many concerts by well-known musicians. There are actually a lot of concerts occurring in Lucca this summer, so be sure to check out this site for more information.
In general, Lucca is a wonderful city to visit. You can walk around the historic center on the tree-lined walls, visit the peaceful botanical garden, and explore the shops. It is a lovely place to spend the afternoon before attending one of the popular summer events in the city.
If you are wondering if visiting Lucca is worth a stop, look up more information here.
Pistoia Blues (Pistoia)
The more I research the summer events happening in and around Pisa, the more excited I get. The Pistoia Blues Festival hosts a myriad of concerts including some of my favorite artists. I hope I can make it to at least one this year!
Pistoia is located just north of Florence and is accessible by train from Pisa Centrale. It hosts this festival, which takes place between July 5th and July 12th (2023). Find out more about performing artists, openers, and dates here.
Mercantia (Certaldo)
From July 12th – 16th (2023), the historic village of Certaldo comes alive with a plethora of events. With over 100 theatre companies putting on performances, visitors can enjoy juggling, acrobatics, music, dance, crafts, and more. Mercentia is an event near Pisa where the squares, streets, and even gardens are taken over by various art forms.
At only an hour away from Pisa by train, Mercentia is the largest festival of its kind in all of Italy. Artists come from all over the country to share their art forms with the public.
There is an entrance fee and more information on tickets and how to get there can be found here.
Food festivals in and around Pisa
Keep your eyes peeled for various food festivals and wine events happening across Tuscany. Summer events in and around Pisa pop up all the time. There are several food festivals that happen in Pisa throughout the summer.
Keep an eye out for flyers and Facebook posts. There are just too many to post here and the information is not always available via Google, so I don’t want to mislead you by posting incorrect information here.
Keep an eye out for more events in and around Pisa
This is just a small itty-bitty sampling of the summer events happening in and around Pisa. I hope you enjoy your time and fill it with fun. The region is full of delicious food, wine, and culture. There is no end to the adventures you can have in Tuscany, whether you travel by train or car.
