Luminara and Palio di San Ranieri in Pisa

 

This weekend Pisa celebrates San Ranieri, the patron’s city with lots of events.

Luminara of San Ranieri

The night before the celebrations, on June 16th takes place the Luminara of San Ranieri, when lots of small lights colored the city for night. This particular event dates back to 17th century when Pisa was lighted up to celebrate San Ranieri. In fact on March 25th 1688 the urn preserving the holy relics of Ranieri degli Scaccieri was renewed thanks to Cosimo III de’ Medici.

For the Luminara about 70.000 small lights are placed inside small glasses hanged to wooden structures placed over churches, buildings, bridges and towers, to outline their architectures. The atmosphere is really magic. Then at 11.30pm there are the fireworks.

 

Palio of San Ranieri

On Patron’s day Pisa celebrates with a boat race called Palio di San Ranieri, dating back to 13th century. The four city boroughs challenge each other into the regatta using medieval boats of the Medicean Order of Knights from Santo Stefano. When the boats arrive to the finish, one member of each team, called montatore, climbs up the mast and get the paliotto of his team’s color. The faster team is the winner.