Luminara di Santa Croce

Lucca's most beloved festival

The Luminara di Santa Croce is the heart of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Festival, the main religious and civic celebration in the city of Lucca, Tuscany. Every year, on the evening of September 13th, the historic center enclosed by Renaissance walls is draped in light: building facades, churches, towers, and streets are illuminated by thousands of flickering flames, creating a timeless atmosphere that makes the Luminara one of the most evocative events in the entire region.

The Volto Santo, symbol of the city

The festival revolves around the Volto Santo, the ancient wooden crucifix venerated by the people of Lucca and kept in the Cathedral of San Martino. According to tradition, the relic arrived in Lucca from the sea and was initially placed in the Basilica of San Frediano before miraculously moving to the vicinity of the cathedral: a divine sign of the place where it was meant to remain. The Luminara commemorates this very transfer, retracing the route from San Frediano to San Martino.

The procession

The heart of the evening is the night procession which sets off from the Basilica of San Frediano around 8:00 PM. The pageant, composed of civil and religious authorities, confraternities, local districts, and delegations from across the archdiocese, travels through the streets of the center—including Via Fillungo, Via Roma, and Piazza San Michele—until it reaches Piazza San Martino. Along the route, the streets are lit exclusively by candles and votive lights, following a tradition documented in chronicles as far back as the late 14th century.

The Mottettone and fireworks

Upon the procession's arrival at the cathedral, the Mottettone is performed—a solemn polyphonic composition often written specifically for the occasion, interpreted by the city's choirs and musical chapels. The evening concludes late at night with the Santa Croce fireworks display, clearly visible from the northern side of the City Walls, providing a spectacular finale to the festival.

A millennial tradition

The first documentary evidence of the September 14th celebration dates back to 1118, but the roots of the festival lie in ancient medieval traditions of wax offerings, when communities subject to Lucca brought candles and tapers as gifts to the patron saint of the ruling city. Today, the Luminara is a combination of faith, historical memory, and a grand popular celebration: a unique opportunity to discover the Municipality of Lucca in its most authentic and fascinating guise.