Luminaria di San Ranieri

One of the traditional festivals of Pisa

The Luminaria di San Ranieri Pisa town festival is held every year on the evening of June 16, the eve of Saint Ranieri, patron of the city.

The tradition of illuminating the city with candles placed on the buildings dating back to 1688, in that year the urn with the relics of the Saint was placed in the chapel of the Crowned in the Cathedral. Their transposition so it was an opportunity to create a memorable celebration, and it is this day that traditionally marks the birth of the Luminaria.

Each year about 100,000 candles are placed on wooden frames that draw the perimeters of the palaces, churches and towers of the lungarni; a type of decoration that is usual just to Lucca and Pisa. Even the Tower of Pisa is lit with oil pan, placed even on the battlements of the city walls. On the Arno river they are entrusted to the current of floating lights, with the switching off of public lighting, the lights and the torches create a very suggestive atmosphere that is really worth seeing.

The evening ends around midnight with Fireworks shot from the Cittadella and bridges of the city; the celebrations in honour of the patron continues the next day in the waters of the Arno with the "Regata di San Ranieri."

 

Photo Credits [pisatoday.it]