Piazza Napoleone 2026

LUCCA · PIAZZA NAPOLEONE

Lucca's Napoleonic Square

Piazza Napoleone, known to locals as Piazza Grande, was commissioned in 1806 by Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, Napoleon's sister and Princess of Lucca. She ordered the demolition of medieval buildings to open up a Neoclassical square in her brother's honour, flanked by the Palazzo Ducale and shaded by mature plane trees. Two centuries on, it remains the social heart of the walled city.

Since 1998 the piazza has been the main stage of the Lucca Summer Festival, one of Italy's most prestigious music festivals. The intimate setting — with audiences from a few thousand up to around 12,000 — has welcomed legends like Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen and James Brown. For bigger crowds the festival relocates onto the former Campo Balilla bastion of the city walls.

Lucca Summer Festival Highlights

Every July the square turns into a stage for international and Italian headliners. The 2026 edition features:

• Ludovico Einaudi — 24 June 2026 — solo piano
• David Byrne — 25 June 2026 — Talking Heads icon
• John Legend — 5 July 2026 — soul and piano pop
• Alabama Shakes — 7 July 2026 — soul rock
• Ronnie Wood — 17 July 2026 — Rolling Stones guitarist
• Riccardo Muti — 20 July 2026 — symphonic gala
• Tom Jones — 28 July 2026 — voice legend
• Pooh — 29 July 2026 — Italian classic

How to Reach Piazza Napoleone

• Train — Lucca station is 650 m south, a 10-minute walk through Porta San Pietro; direct lines from Florence and Pisa.
• By car — A11 motorway, Lucca Est exit; park outside the walls (the historic centre is restricted).
• On foot — Lucca is small and pedestrian-friendly; the piazza is at the centre of everything.

Why Book Lucca Summer Festival Tickets

Festival dates at Piazza Napoleone sell out quickly, helped by the intimate scale of the square (capacity ranges from 6,000 to 12,000). Booking early secures both the date and the seating area you prefer.

Book Your Lucca Summer Festival Tickets

Pick your favourite night, choose your area and step into one of the most atmospheric concert settings in Italy — a Napoleonic square at the heart of a walled medieval city.