A dive in the past with reenactment of a medieval village inside the Lucca walls with live performances, cultural events, exhibitions and gastronomy. This is the third edition of one of the fastest growing events of the last years in Lucca, that is attracting people from all the tuscany but also the rest of peninsula.
This year the exhibition will take place in Piazzale Verdi, on the green field area on the left after entering the walls, on the weekend of 2-3 June. Here you will always find the medieval village curated by 6 different reenactment associations, where you can see the equipment of many types: armors, helmets, swords, bows and even heavy crossbows, a tradition of italian city defense before the gunpowder invention. You fill also find many craftspeople exhibiting their mastery on making unique pieces with iron and leather.
During the two days, we have scheduled a bunch of live performances held by people with their own very particular skills: fire manipulation, falconry, drums parades, flags throwing, dancing and medieval combat. On Sunday there is a crossbow competition between the crossbowers of the city of Lucca, where each Contrada try to win a painting made by a local artist.
Follows the schedule: PDF VERSION
Saturday 2 June
- 10:30 Opening ceremony and historical parade through the city center
- 11:00 Arrival of dames and horse knights
- 11:30 Falconry show
- 12:00 Heavy crossbows trial shoots - English-speaking people available for explanations
- 12:30 Opening of the tavern for lunch with music
- 14:30 Medieval village opening
- 16:00 Face painting and show for children
- 17:00 Knights combat show
- 17:30 Buskers show of circus skills
- 18.00 La ninfa contesa - Book presentation with performing actors (italian-only)
- 18.30 Buskers show on rolling pipes
- 19.00 Belly dance show
- 20.00 Opening of the taver for the dinner with music
- 20.30 Knights combat show
- 21.00 Belly dance show
- 21.30 Artù Rivelato - talk and cultural project presentation (italian-only)
- 21.30 Heavy crossbows shooting by night
- 22.00 Fire manipulation show
- 22.30 Buskers show of circus skills
- 23.00 Fire manipulation show
- 23.30 Buskers show of knife throwing
- 24.00 Closing activities
Sunday 3 June
- 09:30 Medieval village opening
- 10:00 Historic parade through the city center
- 10:30 Arrival of the cannons group of Lucca (Historica Lucense)
- 10:45 Heavy crossbows trial shoots - English-speaking people available for explanations
- 11:00 Knights combat show
- 11.15 Talk about herbs (italian-only)
- 11.30 Falconry show
- 12.00 Dames and horses show
- 12:30 Opening of the tavern for lunch with music
- 14:30 Medieval village opening
- 15.30 Heavy crossbows competition
- 16.00 Knights combat show
- 17.00 Ceremony for the crossbows competition winners
- 17.15 Flags throwing and drums exhibition by Contrada S. Anna of Lucca
- 17.30 Knights combat show
- 18.00 Buskers show of acrobatic skills
- 18.00 Talk about pottery (italian-only)
- 18.30 Talk about Via Francigena (italian-only)
- 18.30 Medieval dances show
- 19.00 Buskers show of circus skills
- 19.30 Medieval poetry
- 20.00 Opening of the taver for the dinner with music
- 21.00 Medieval dances show
- 21.30 Medieval poetry
- 21.45 Fire manipulation show
- 22.30 Buskers show of knife throwing
- 23.00 Fire manipulation show
- 23.30 Closing ceremony
Links
- Official website
- Facebook page
- Instagram hashtag: #luccamedievale
- Organizer email: info at consanpaolino.org