This weekend there's something to suit everybody's fancy in Lucca

If you are already in Lucca maybe walking around San Frediano's church and the Amphitheater, you have noticed that something is going on... What are these workers doing?

They are arranging a beautiful flower carpet in front of the church and a flower market in the roman square that will start on Fri, 25th April to celebrate a special personality in town: Saint Zita.

If you have not meet her yet, go inside the church and you will see her in the first chapel on your right as soon as you come in. There she is in a glass case on the main altar, surrounded by paintings to highlight her miracles and the most important episodes of her life.

The lucchese inhabitants are still very attached to her. She is the copatron saint of the city and there will be a Mass to commemorate her the day she died April 27, 1278 but also the flower and plan market. Why flowers you are probably wondering? Because one of the miracle she performed was to transform the breadcrumbs and food leftover hidden in the her apron in many many beautiful daffodils.

Do not miss the market as there are some amazing flower decorations!

Then if you are looking for a unique souvenir from Lucca, something to remind you this holiday go to the Arts&Crafts Market in San Giusto's square (April, 25-26-27). Here you will find lot of ideas, all absolutely hand made and original: jewels, ceramic, leather, pictures, clothes, home accessories etc...
I remember last year a guest came especially for this market, that takes place the last weekend of the month, so that she could buy all her Christmas presents here!

It can seem too much of a coincidence but this weekend we will also celebrate two different Liberation/Independence day.

The first one, on April 25th, it is more connected with the Italian history. April 25, 1945 it is generally considered the end of the World War II in our country, the end of the German/Nazi occupation (on that day the American troops released Milan and Turin). Since 1946 it ha been proclaimed public holiday: so offices, banks, schools, factories will be closed. I believe that most of the stores in Lucca will be opened, at least in the afternoon. But if you have to catch a train or a bus make sure you check the right schedule.

For the first time in Lucca, this year, there will be a cooperation to realize a War Resistance Itineray. If you interested in this subject you will find in town in Via Sant'Andrea the Liberation Museum, which is slowly reopening with new sections. (Time: 10-13 and 14-19), in Borgo a Mozzano instead you can find the open air museum of the Gothic Line (Time 10-13): the fortifications, bunkers, tunnels, emplacements and anti-tank defense built by the German army. Finally, if you happen to be in this area, near Barga, there is the Sommocolonia Museum (time 10-13 and afternoon). This village is known for the Christmas Battle, the only battle fought in the Serchio Valley. The movie director Spike Lee got inspired by this event for his film Miracle at St.Anna's in 2008. The allies were stopped in a long action by the German troops for almost the entire winter season, they will have to wait for the spring to be able to cross the Apennines mountains and reach the north of Italy.






The second Liberation celebrated this weekend is related to the history of the city. And you are very lucky to be here if you like medieval festivals!

It is called Domenica in Albis, as it is the first Sunday after Easter. April 8th, 1369 (first Sunday after Easter) marked the end of the Pisan Domination thanks to the Emperor Charles IV. From that moment the word LIBERTAS was placed on the city red and white coat of arms and a little bit everywhere. They will follow 430 years of independent and autonomous Republic, till Napoleon's arrival, and this will make the most of what Lucca is today.

Here is the program for Sunday, take a note:

10.00 Historical Parade (flag wavers, drummers and medieval characters) on the main street to the Cathedral to attend the Mass at 10.30.
At then end of the Mass, the Ordination Ceremony for the Gonfalonier of the district according to the 1370 Statute (Lucca was divided in three districts, called Terziere, likewise the Contrada in Siena).

14.30 Outisde the St. Peter's Bulwark (close to Porta Elisa or Porta San Jacopo) a great event: The National Medieval Crossbow tournament. It is amazing!

16.00 Historical Parade till St. Michele's square - Announcements Reading and the parade will continue to St.Martin's square where there will be two flag wavers shows, then back to St. Frediano

17.45 Changing the Guard at Saint Zita, drums greeting and final flag wavers show.

If you need to do some activity, then you will find at the San Frediano Bulwark, the Lucca International Golf Open Pitch & Putt (Sat 26 and Sun 27) There will be competitions, but also the chance to learn and try for free this sport with instructors on the walls. After the workout in the Real Collegio you can find some relax with a winetasting, gala dinner, cocktails, an exhibition and much more...

In case you will rather do something else in the surrounding area you can find: 

- Enolia in Seravezza on Sat&Sun, if you do not have a car you can take a train to Forte dei Marmi and then there will be a free shuttle bus to the event. Inside the Medici Palace you can taste several Extra Virgin Olive Oils produced all over Italy, you can do an evo tasting course to learn the many features or you can simply enjoy many typical products as salumi, cheese, bread and so on. Even this year a new product will be introduced: I Servanti, cold cuts preserved with wax. 

- if you are passionate about white wines, do not miss Montecarlo White Wines at Palazzo Pellegrini-Carmignani in Montecarlo from 15 o'clock on Saturday and Sunday.

- the last suggestion is the Marcia delle Ville, on Sunday 27, an incredible itinerary (3.5, 7, 10, 16, 23, 28km you can choose your favourite distance) discovering the most beautiful villas in the lucchese countryside: Mansi, Torrigiani, Lazzareschi, Reale, Guinigi and now and then you will have places to rest and to eat something. 

Art, nature, food, markets and some workout... any better idea? Have fun in Lucca! 

Easter in Lucca

My apologies for the absence in the last couple of weeks from this blog, the season is starting and it is good to see you coming in apartments and villas here, but there's a lot of maintenance works involved in the backstage after the winter.

Many of you will be spending Easter in Lucca and I thought that it could be nice and useful to know what's happening in town and around.



First of all, being mainly a religious feast, let's start with the celebrations:

• Holy (Maundy) Thursday April, 17th is the day that Christ celebrated the Last Supper with the Apostles. The Mass will be held at the Cathedral (San Martino) at 6.30pm and it will include the washing of the feet ceremony. The pray will continue till 11pm in the Santissimo Sacramento chapel. There will be another Mass in San Michele's church at 9pm.
• Good Friday April, 18th the Stations of the Cross (Way of the Cross, we call it in latin Via Crucis) will start at 8.45 pm from San Salvatore Square and it will go through Via Fillungo to reach San Frediano's church. 
• Easter Eve, Saturday April 19th Holy Mass at 9.30 pm at the Saint Martin's Cathedral. 
• Easter Sunday, April 20th Holy Mass at 10.30 am at the Saint Martin's Cathedral held by the Archbishop.
• Easter Monday, April 21th Holy Mass at 11 am Saint Michele's church. 

Please pay attention that in these churches opening hours can change, you may find them closed or just opened for confessions, so they won't allow visitors inside. 

If you have a car and feel brave to drive some mountain roads, on Thursday night, go to Castiglione di Garfagnana, for The Crocioni Procession. That can be a real and strong experience! After the mass, people will follow in a procession a man dressed as Jesus Christ, he will have chains at his bare feet and a heavy cross to bear on his shoulder. Nobody knows the identity of the man, apart from the priest: a long white hood will cover his head. Before the mass he will be hidden in a huge wardrobe. He will come out for the procession representing the biblical walk with the three falls, the roman soldiers and the apostles. The torch light, the drum rolls, the chains noise will make it very real and suggestive even because the village is a perfect medieval hamlet. At the end the man will go back inside the wardrobe, two soldiers will check and only later when everybody will be gone he will come out. You may wonder who wants to do such a thing, usually is a local person who makes a vow or he does it as a proof of regret. 

On Easter Eve and Sunday, we have the tradition to bring the eggs (chocolate or boiled) and the pasimata to be blessed by the priest. This is what you will find on the altar.

Pasimata is a typical sweet bread of Lucca, Garfagnana and Versilia that usually is prepared only for Easter, ask for it at the bakeries and pastries shop in town. It can be with raisin, almonds or candied fruit. The pastry smells of anise seeds and it is soft and tasty. It has a very long rising time. It can have the shape of a loaf of bread or it can be as thick as a panettone. Of course, you will have to enjoy it with a glass of Vinsanto (Holy wine) and dip it in! 

Most of the restaurants will be opened on Easter Sunday at lunch and dinner. 

At lunch time, maybe it will be better to book a table, we do not all celebrate at home, so they might be busy. Some of them will do a special menu (lamb and kid/goat are the main traditional courses) they will show it outside on a notice board some days before, go and have a look if you are interested.

If you plan to cook at your fantastic holiday home, then go shopping as soon as you can! Groceries, supermarkets and bakeries will be shut on Sunday and most of them even on Monday. 

During the weekend (Sat&Sun) you can spend some hours in one of the best Tuscan antiques market! It is quite big, the stalls will be all around in Giglio's square, Cathedral & San Giovanni's square, San Giusto's square, Via del Gallo and Bernardini's square from 9am till 6pm . Old books, prints, medals, stamps, vintage clothes and accessories, furniture, cutlery, china and unusual tools could be a unique souvenir from Lucca and an experience you should not miss! I love it!

Instead, this year from 18th till 21st in Corso Garibaldi (from 9am till 9pm) there will be a new market dedicated to Sardinia products: food, wine and artisan. I do not know exactly what you can find as it is the first time, but I am sure you will find delicatessen as cold cuts, great pecorino cheese, Mirto a typical liqueur, the carasau a very thin and crispy bread, Cannonau wine, sweets as seadas and biscuits. So if you forget to buy something at the grocery store, here's the solution!

If you have not visited yet the national Museums: Palazzo Mansi e Villa Guinigi will be opened in the afternoon (1.30 till 7.30pm) on Sunday and Monday. The first one is a beautiful example of a 16th century lucchese noble residence with frescoes and an amazing wedding bedroom, plus there's a painting gallery, too. Now the masterpiece is in Florence part of the Portormo and Rosso Fiorentino exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi. 

The other museum is related to the art of the city and quite big: archeology, paintings and scuplture from Medieval till 18th century. Then, still here the exhibition The Furnace of Porta San Donato. The work of a potter in the 17th century in Lucca opened just recently. (free entrance)

For music lovers, on Sunday at 9.15 pm at the San Giuseppe Oratory (next to the Cathedral) the second concert of the Easter and Pentecost (Whitsunday) Festival  will take place. Beatrice Venezi at the piano will accompany the sopranos Fabiola Formiga and Melissa di Biasio. The program is dedicated to Tuscan opera composers: Puccini of course and then Catalani, Luporini and Mascagni, as well.
For info and bookings: tickets can be purchased at the San Giovanni's Church (10-6pm, every day) or you can write an email to info@musick.it. Price 20€ first sector; 15€ second sector.

The Italian tradition expects that on Easter Monday, Pasquetta, you have to do a picnic, a merendella/merendina at the beach in Viareggio, on the mountains in Garfagnana or in the lucchese countryside. If it is a sunny day there will be a lot of people everywhere! So you if would like to respect the tradition, a barbecue picnic can be arranged for you in a  local vineyard, please get in contact with Paola by Friday.

At last I would like to mention the Azalea Festival in Borgo a Mozzano, (Sun&Mon), you can reach the village by train from Lucca, check first the times as it is public holiday or better if you have a car it is less than 30 mins drive. Do not miss the Devil's bridge!

Hopefully, I have given you some ideas how to spend these days here in Lucca, so do not forget to tell me if my suggestions were good enough! 

Happy Easter! Buona Pasqua! :)