Each year, at the end of October, the medieval town of Lucca is transformed and plays host to Lucca Comics and Games, Italy's answer to Comic-con. In fact, the festival has outdone the numbers of that perhaps more familiar name. Attendance in recent years has reached over 400,000, making it the biggest festival of its kind in Europe and the second largest in the world after Comiket in Tokyo.
The festival was established in 1966 and continues to dominate the city centre of the town for five days each year. Lucca's normal population of 87,000 is massively increased and the streets are flooded by attendees dressed vibrantly.
The festival was established in 1966 and continues to dominate the city centre of the town for five days each year. Lucca's normal population of 87,000 is massively increased and the streets are flooded by attendees dressed vibrantly.
One of the first things any visitors will notice is the “cos-players”; people dressed as characters from anime, movies, television shows, video-games etc. Even if you're not interested in attending yourself, the parade of characters going by is not to be missed! This parade, Lucca Cosplay, gathers near the Palco principale on the Baluardo San Paolino, a big colorful stage which is the venue of the Music Contest. Here many cover bands play songs and soundtracks of anime, shows and video-games. In addition to the spectacle of the festival-goers, is the festival itself. It celebrates music, animation, pop culture, games and cinema and is one of the few festivals worldwide that covers the same multi-genre territory as Comic-con.
The events take place in the centre of Lucca, with exhibitions held near the Palazzo Ducale, the Real Collegio and the Museum of Modern Contemporary Arts named Lu.C.C.A. Japan Town is an entire area devoted to all aspects of Japanese pop-culture and features manga and anime stalls and exhibitions, food, costume and particularly unique aspects such as maid cafés.
Lucca Comics is large enough to attract high profile guests and is also often the site of European and Italian premieres and previews of television shows, movies and anime. In 2014 it premiered episodes of Warner Brothers' “Gotham”.
In 2013, was the site of the Italian premiere of “Thor: The Dark World” and “Machete Kills”. You can also experience video-game launches, partake in role-playing games and more throughout the city. This year's line-up of events and guests has yet to be announced but it promises to be even bigger and better than before!
The festival takes place between the 29th of October and 1st of November and tickets cost around €16 with reduced rates for children and groups and can be bought online or at vendors on each day. However, bear in mind that these lines can be long so buying beforehand may be preferable.
Find a villa in Lucca or nearby in a Tuscan holiday villa nearby and maybe this might just be a slightly more unique activity during your stay in Lucca.
Lucca Comics is large enough to attract high profile guests and is also often the site of European and Italian premieres and previews of television shows, movies and anime. In 2014 it premiered episodes of Warner Brothers' “Gotham”.
In 2013, was the site of the Italian premiere of “Thor: The Dark World” and “Machete Kills”. You can also experience video-game launches, partake in role-playing games and more throughout the city. This year's line-up of events and guests has yet to be announced but it promises to be even bigger and better than before!
The festival takes place between the 29th of October and 1st of November and tickets cost around €16 with reduced rates for children and groups and can be bought online or at vendors on each day. However, bear in mind that these lines can be long so buying beforehand may be preferable.
Find a villa in Lucca or nearby in a Tuscan holiday villa nearby and maybe this might just be a slightly more unique activity during your stay in Lucca.
Photo credits
picture 2: Yoggysot - Alessio Sbarbaro / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Fabo kun / CC BY 2.0;
picture 2: Yoggysot - Alessio Sbarbaro / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Fabo kun / CC BY 2.0;
