A series of open-air concerts in Lucca, Tuscany each July, the main 'venue' being Piazza Napoleone, also known as Piazza Grande.
For such a small, albeit perfectly formed, town, this event has attracted some big names over the years - Oasis, Paul Simon, David Bowie, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Alanis Morrisette, Black Eyed Peas, James Brown - to name a few, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Concerts usually begin at around 9pm; it's still warm, and the main square is closed off from early evening. During concerts most of the bars and shops around the square remain open, and the majority of the events are standing only - but not all.

The official website is notoriously late in announcing the lineup, but for 2008 some names are confirmed already - Sheryl Crow, Leonard Cohen, Alicia Keys, Chicago, Erykah Badu and Mick Hucknall. The latter is a fixture by now, be it as himself or Simply Red. Elton John is also a frequent visitor. It's rare for tickets to sell out, so you can usually be sure of showing up and buying on the day, but the official site also explains how to get tickets.

Below are some links - the official site, a blog post about the 2008 festival, and our favourite site for Lucca hotels:

www.summer-festival.com/
blog.ahotelinitaly.com/italy/2008/03/18/lucca-festival-2008-new-concerts/
www.ahotelinitaly.com/italy/hotels/tuscany/lucca/lucca/

Lucca, Tuscany, Italy - main venue is Piazza Napoleone, inside the famous city walls.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It's the tower with the tree on top! One of the most recognisable landmarks within the walls of Lucca. Well worth the climb for views from the top.

Via S.Andrea – 55100 Lucca
Tel 0583 316846
Winter opening: daily 9.00 – 17.30
Summer opening: daily 9.00 – 20.00
October opening: daily 10.00 – 18.00

Lucca hotels - www.ahotelinitaly.com/italy/hotels/tuscany/lucca/lucca/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

I'm staggered by the reader who said there's 'not much to do in Lucca'. Apart from the fact that this has about the most perfect set of medieval walls of any city you'll see in Europe.

The best way to get a feel for the town is to hire a bike (there are big cycle hire places all over the old town) and ride around the walls (a circuit is less than three miles). These are so wide/deep that they have parks and cycle paths. Your wheels are also the best way to get around the narrow streets of the centre, which is now largely free of cars. Arguably Lucchese can be a bit snooty (this very bourgeois town is the only place I've seen fur coats in June) but a lovely little place nonetheless.

A good central hotel is www.ahotelinitaly.com/hotel-details/alla-corte-degli-angeli-maison-de-charme-lucca/#hotelmap. Only five rooms, nice and quiet.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends