Luminara and Historical Regatta of Saint Ranieri

Festival Location: Pisa, Italy

Festival Type(s): Water Sports Events, Traditional Festivals, Historical Festivals

Luminara and Historical Regatta of Saint Ranieri

By: © Jacqueline Harmon Butler 2009

Luminara of Saint Ranieri

Around 9:30 PM on June 16th, the eve of feast day of Saint Ranieri who is the patron saint of Pisa, the buildings along the Arno River are transformed into a fantastical fairyland setting. The architectural components of surrounding buildings and the parapets all along the river and bridges are illuminated with the flames of over 70,000 lumini, (small glass candle holders), while thousands more of the tiny candles float on the waters of the river. The tradition has been celebrated each year since Saint Ramieri was laid to rest in the cathedral in 1688.

Candles are placed on white wooden sticks and placed on window ledges, rooftops and balconies to create fanciful designs. The lumini don't actually follow the lines of the buildings but are placed in asymmetrical designs giving wonderful visual transformations to the city. Thousands of people come every year to marvel at the spectacle.

Historic Regatta of Saint Ranieri

The Historic Regatta of Saint Ranieri occurs the next day, June 17th, and dates back to the 13th century. The Annals of Pisa record that the first regatta was held during the Palio of Our Lady of the Assumption in 1292. It wasn't until 1635 that its rules were actually formalized, and in 1718, the tradition of holding the regatta on the feast of Saint Ranieri began.

The Regatta consists of four boats, each one representing a district of Pisa, S. Maria (white-blue), S. Francesco (white-yellow), S. Antonio (white-green), S. Martino (white-red). The crews must row against the current on a 1,500 meter-long stretch of the Arno. The boats are manned by eight oarsmen, one steersman and an additional man who, upon arrival at the finish line (actually a large boat anchored in the middle of the Arno), must climb a 25 foot long rope in order to grab the Palio (flag) of victory. In addition to the Palio, the winners of these competitions received prize in kind, particularly animals: an ox, a sheep, a pig, and a rooster.

According to the tradition, the men of the last boat to arrive at the finish line are given a couple of geese while all the onlookers shout insults at them.

by Jacqueline Harmon Butler

Luminara and Historical Regatta of Saint Ranieri Dates and Location

The Regatta is held on June 17th, the feast day of the city's patron saint, whilst the Luminari is held the night before. The regatta takes place on a stretch of the Arno River in Pisa, Italy.