A group of people dressed in 17th-century military attire parade along the walls of Lucca in two lines. In the front row are a drummer and a man holding a flag.

The fourth edition is packed with new features. Lucca's history festival runs from May 19th to 24th, featuring reenactments, shows, exhibitions, guided tours, and workshops for the whole family.

A rich program with new activities

The history of Lucca begins on Tuesday, May 19th at 15:00 PM at the Castello di Porta San Donato with a photographic exhibition of the forty best shots from the previous edition and ends on Saturday 23rd at 15:00 pm with the awards ceremony.

Other exhibitions are set up in the rooms of the barracks.
At the Casa del Boia, historical miniatures, at the Casermetta San Pietro, specialized publishing and at the Casermetta San Martino the Office, a space where you can retrace the history of the Walls of Lucca through a mix of reenactment, reproductions of weapons, education and more.

At Villa Bottini a special exhibition curated byLucca Photographic Archive in Piazza San Michele in the twentieth century.
The Archive will be open on Tuesdays from 15:00 PM to 17:00 PM
It will be open to visitors on Tuesday 19th and then until Friday 22nd from 9.30am to 12.30pm,
Thursday 20th also in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5.00pm.


Trekking in History

After the inauguration, one of the new features of the 2026 edition will begin: an urban trekking tour to discover the places that have shaped the city's history.

Three free routes departing at 15:30 PM from Porta San Donato Castle

  • Tuesday 19th - The Roman City
  • Wednesday 20th - Medieval Lucca, the pilgrims
  • Thursday, May 21 - The City and the Renaissance Walls

Tours have a limited number of places. Reservations are required by calling 0583 442213 or by emailing info@turismo.lucca.it

Free guided tours of cultural sites

sequence of rooms inside the State Archives of Lucca.

State Archives

The monumental hall of the Lucca State Library is divided in two by three arches supported by twin columns on pedestals. The perimeter walls are covered with shelves containing books.

State Library

Mint Museum of Lucca

Interior of the Lucca municipal archives. A bright room with a table and a glass door that opens on the left.

Municipal Historical Archive

The wooden walkway over the pond of the Botanical Garden among thick aquatic plants in springtime

Botanical Garden of Lucca

Central view of the nave of Lucca Cathedral with its starry sky ceiling. A cross and a serrated cross hang from an arch. In the left aisle is the small temple of the Holy Face.

St. Martin's Cathedral

View of the rooms of the National Museum of Villa Guinigi with paintings on the walls

Villa Guinigi National Museum

perspective of a corridor with doors and curtains draped with family crests

National Museum of Palazzo Mansi

Close-up of two girls in early 19th-century clothes talking in front of the Caffè delle Mura building

THE CLOCK OF TIME

On Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th a hand marks the centuries on the bastions of the Walls of Lucca

Discover Lucca like a true local!

On Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May, from 10:00 am to 19:00 pm, history comes to life on the ramparts of the Walls of Lucca in the historical reenactment camps.

San Paolino Bastion: The Etruscan and Ligurian origins.
San Donato Bastion: the Roman Age.
Santa Croce Bastion: the Early Middle Ages.
San Frediano Bastion: flag games and historical dances
stands of the San Frediano Bastion: Military camps. 19:00 PM - The Knights' Joust
San Martino Bastion: the Late Middle Ages.
Barracks of the San Martino bastion: the Office, the history of the Walls of Lucca.
Underground of the San Pietro Bastion: the Late Middle Ages.
Barracks of the San Pietro bastion: publishing and comics.
Bulwark of the Savior: the Renaissance
Executioner's House: historical miniatures and jesters
Bastion of Liberty: the nineteenth century
Bastion of San Regolo and San Colombano: the twentieth century
Santa Maria Bastion: Belle Epoque Café

On Saturday the 23rd at 10:00 a.m., a multi-era historical procession will set off from the Baluardo Santa Maria and pass through the streets of the historic center.

History is a spectacle

Shows and performances will enliven the Walls of Lucca this weekend.

at the San Donato bastion, the gladiatorial arena,
at the San Frediano bastion the flag-wavers and the historical dances,
at the San Martino bastion falconry,
at the Executioner's House the jesters,
in the square of the Santa Maria bastion the Belle Epoque Café.
on the stands of the sortie of the San Frediano bastion military camps

close-up of a knight in armor and lance running on the battlements of the walls of Lucca

the Knights' Joust

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th, at 19:00 pm, the most popular event among the Rievocando Lucca audience

Discover Lucca like a true local!

History is culture

at 18:00 pm at Casermetta San Paolino

Tuesday 19th - Lucca: an image of time, from historical sources to new technologies.
Edited by Professor Alessio Pisani.
Wednesday 20th - the Cathedral of San Martino between the 11th and 15th centuries, from the five-aisled basilica to the Gothic cathedral.
Edited by historian and journalist Iacopo Lazzareschi Cervelli.
Thursday 21th - Lucca and its public city theatre, 351 years after its opening..
Edited by Professor Michele Bianchi and Giglio administrator Giorgio Angelo Lazzarini.

free admission subject to availability

History is a game for all ages

Thursday 21st at 21:00 pm - Agora Library role-playing and board games.
Friday 22nd at 20:00 PM - San Salvatore Barracks, aperitif for everyone in the company of re-enactors from all eras.

at the San Paolino bastion traditional games and creative workshops with LEGO bricks,
on the stands of the San Frediano bastion: how a knight and his horse were prepared with Little Squires,
at the San Martino barracks: model painting workshop,
at the San Pietro barracks: comic book workshops for children.

Recalling Lucca day by day

Find all the details and times on the official website

go to Luccahistoriaefest

Do you want to know the schedule day by day?

Download the program (pdf 157kb)