Following the success of "Accordo di Stelle," which on Friday, July 24, opened the celebrations for the Leaning Tower's birthday by bringing the stars of dance and music – Roberto Bolle, Giovanni Allevi, and Melissa Hamilton – to Piazza del Duomo, the city's celebration now enters its most anticipated moment: Sunday, August 9, at 9:30 pm the Grand Lyric Gala will be held at the foot of the Bell Tower, on the very anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Leaning Tower, on 9 August 1173. The concert is free and open to all. For the occasion, the Tower will close early and will be lit as a frame for the evening.
The celebration renews a tradition that began in 2023, when the Opera della Primaziale Pisana chose to celebrate the 850th anniversary of its bell tower with a major performance in Piazza del Duomo. Since then, every summer, the Piazza dei Miracoli has been transformed into an open-air setting to celebrate the birthday of the most famous Tower in the world.
On stage, leading performers of today's operatic scene such as tenor Francesco Meli, soprano Mariam Battistelli and mezzo-soprano Cristina Mosca. Together with the three singers, the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Marcello Rota.
Among the most famous arias, songs and duets –taken from works by Delibes, Bizet, Offenbach, Puccini, Lehár – alternate with symphonic pieces such as the Overture from Bellini's Norma or the extraordinary soundtracks by Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota, Once Upon a Time in the West and Amarcord.
INFORMATION
Admission is free without a ticket, with seating available while capacity is limited. Access to the stalls will be permitted starting at 6:30 pm from Via del Duomo.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BOOK.
Starting at 5:00 PM, access to Piazza del Duomo from the Via Cardinal Maffi side will be closed for both entry and exit.
Monuments open for free
As with the opening night, on August 9th the monuments in the Piazza del Duomo will be open to visitors free of charge in the evening, from 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm.
Access to the Baptistery, Camposanto, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, and Museo delle Sinopie is by reservation (starting July 27) through the website www.scopripisa.it/calendario-eventi/.
The Cathedral will remain open to visitors without reservations, with limited admission.
