LMN* Lucca Magico Natale
The happy Christmas atmosphere is spread in the streets and squares of Lucca.
It's time to disconnect from work and pass your time with family and friends and your favourite things, small habits to be preserved throughout the year, or just a hot chocolate in a cosy place with smiling faces.
Lucca welcomes you for a magical Christmas, with small and big events to make your end-of-year holidays an unforgettable experience.
On Saturday 26 November at 5:30 pm in piazza Del Giglio
Inauguration of LMN* – Lucca Magico Natale
Opening of the Winter Village in Piazza Napoleone and in Piazza San Michele for the lighting of the huge Christmas tree accompanied by the voices of the Freedom Singers Gospel Choir, hot chocolate and mulled wine for all the participants!!
A TOUR THROUGH CRIBS AND CHRISTMAS TREES
Traditions first!
A tour to discover the cribs set up in churches and historic buildings is an opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of the Christmas atmosphere.
In Lucca, you cannot miss the historic Nativity scene in the Baroque church of Santa Maria Nera (from 11 December to 8 January). Large statues in plaster and straw, papier-mâché, but also bisque for a precious crib from the 1600s, and refined silk garments of the tradition of Lucca's manufactures of the time. In the rectory an exhibition of small transportable nativity scenes set up by the Il Baluardo choir which fascinates young and old every year.
Even Piazza San Michele welcomes this year a large artistic nativity scene by the Confraternita dei Legnaioli, under the loggia of Palazzo Pretorio, and a tall Christmas tree with its comet has been placed on the square.
At Palazzo Ducale traditional plaster nativity scenes from the ancient Barsanti factory are on display: Auguri da noi che siamo lontani will be open until January 6.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S MUSIC
... and then there's music at the Christmas and New Year's concerts.
on December 14 at 9:00 pm, safe the date for the Christmas wishes in the Auditorium del Suffragio with the ISSM Boccherini Orchestra for a Christmas Concert of the historic Music school of Lucca.
on December 17 at 9:00 pm, at the Auditorium del Suffragio, Christmas wishes from the City of Lucca with the Gospel concert by the Freedom Singers Gospel Choir.
on December 19, at 6:00 pm in the churchyard of San Paolino, Christmas concert from the European and Northern European tradition.
on December 23 at 8:30 pm, the Giglio theater Christmas concert with Lucca Puccini's day. A big appointment with the charm of Japan in European opera in the concert Quanto cielo, quanto sole, quanto mar.
For the last day of the year, there are two events to remember: the traditional appointment in the square with entertaining music and sparkling wine for a toast all together to welcome the new year, with citizens and visitors, and the New Year's Eve concert at the Teatro del Giglio organized by the Festival Puccini e la sua Lucca.
On the first day of the year, still at the Teatro del Giglio, at 5:00 pm, with an afternoon concert to welcome the new year with the orchestra of the Teatro del Giglio.
INSTALLATIONS
4 installations in iconic places of the historic center of Lucca curated by international contemporary artists. The multimedia artist Francesco Zavattari designed the Baluardo di Neve e di Stelle in the basement of the bastion of San Martino and the Lucense ad astra Christmas tree in Piazza Guidiccioni.
The Belgian architect, but naturalized citizen of Lucca, Michel Boucquillon has been chosen to realise the setup of the Christmas tree in Piazza San Martino. 5 meters of height for a huge tree made of Alucobond, a stratified material, cut with numerical control in red and shiny gold with decorations specially created for the occasion in unique specimens.
Emiliana Martinelli, native from Lucca but also an international designer, proposes a Christmas forest in Piazza San Giovanni, a bright installation in perfect Christmas style.
In Piazza Scalpellini, #ReCycleXmasTree is a sustainable setup of the GAA/Architecture group. An essential metal structure whose decorations are made with recycled plastic bottles and LED lighting with an on-timer to guarantee energy savings, to give new life to discarded objects and inspire to a reflection on sustainability issues.
SANTA CLAUS, THE BEFANA AND FAIRY TALES
Christmas atmosphere for all ages and families.
Music, workshops, games and entertainment for adults and children in the Christmas Factory, from 8 December to 8 January at the Scuderie Ducali and the San Romano Auditorium.
On December 10, Natale all'Orto with Christmas workshops dedicated to children at the Casermetta San Regolo of Lucca's Botanical Garden. Leaves, pine cones and other gifts from nature for Christmas decorations.
From November 25 to January 8 Piazza Napoleone becomes a Winter Village with the ice skating rink in the historic center of Lucca and the traditional Christmas fair.
In the city of 100 churches, for those who love to spend some time for culture and the discovery of hidden treasures, there is the Storie e Tesori delle feste calendar with guided tours in Italian language of the churches of Lucca in the warm and magical atmosphere of the Christmas holidays. From 8 December to 8 January (bookings tel. +39 0583 442213 - tel. 0583 583150).
Two appointments with music and art at the National Museums of Lucca in the company of the staff of the National Museums and Concertus Lucensis: on December 17 at 4:00 pm La musica degli angeli e dei pastori at the Villa Guinigi Museum, on December 18 Natale a Palazzo at the museum of Palazzo Mansi.
At the Puccinimuseum Gioca con Giacomo Puccini is organised on December 18.
CHRISTMAS MARKET AND OTHER MARKETS
On holidays a tour through the artisan markets to find the last and most original gifts. In Lucca, the traditional Christmas market is called Star Village, in Piazza San Frediano, from 2 to 24 December, with lots of handicraft products and Christmas decorations.
On 3 and 4 December extraordinary edition of Fashion in Flair, the exclusive quality craft market, exceptionally at the Cavallerizza in Piazzale Verdi.
From 8 to 11 December in Piazza Guidiccioni, tasty items at the delicious Puro Cioccolato market.
The historic Carmine market comes alive with art design, photo exhibitions and art from the Meraki Market on the weekend of 11 and 12 December and from 17 to 23 December.
The artisan market Arti e Mestieri will be in Piazza San Giusto from 17 to 23 December.
The weekend of December 17/18 is dedicated to the Antiques Market, for vintage fans the flavors of the past and ideas for an original gift. It is the second oldest antiques market in Italy and it is organised in the alleys and courtyards in the area around the Cathedral.