Pisa's big traditional event is
the
Gioco del Ponte , held
on the last Sunday in June every
year, when twelve teams from the
north and south banks of the city
stage a series of battles, pushing
a seven-tonne carriage over the
Ponte di Mezzo. The event, first
mentioned in 1568, is still held
in medieval costume with much
ceremony. June 17 sees the
Regata
di San Ranieri , where four
rowing teams race in costume in
honour of the patron saint of
Pisa; it is preceded the night
before by the
Luminaria di San
Ranieri , when all the
waterfront buildings and the
Leaning Tower are illuminated.
Italy's four great maritime
republics (Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa and
Venice) take turns to host the
Regata
delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare
, which comes round to Pisa in
late May or early June of 2002.
Four eight-man crews from each of
the cities race against each other
on the Arno, in between
festivities and parades.
Look out for concerts at
the Teatro Comunale Verdi, Via
Palestro 40, and for more offbeat
and contemporary shows (even the
odd rock concert) held in a former
church at the end of Via San Zeno.
The city also has an adventurous arts
cinema , Cinema Nuove, in
Piazza Stazione.
