Last week was the 40th edition of Lucca comics and games, nicknamed I 40 rugenti (the roaring 40s).

Lucca Comics is one of the most important events of its kind in Europe, with over 25,000 visitors. It is dedicated to comics (mostly Japanese, some American and Italian ones too), games (role playing games and trading card games) and cosplay. This year it took place in the center of town, in huge tents set up on most of the major squares around the Piazza Grande.

If you are into comics or games, it is well worth the 10 euros it will cost you to access the various tents where you will be able to buy rare or imported comics, all sorts of gadgets often Japan-themed, enter Yu-Gi-Oh! or Pokemon tournaments... If you are not a fan, or if you are Lucchese and wouldn't be caught dead paying for the right to spend more money, then you will probably prefer to simply wander around town, and admire the cosplayers in their elaborate (or not!) costumes, or attend the free concerts on the Walls (and yes, most of the band members are elves or at least magicians). Oh yes, and of course there are Ninjas too!

Of course, this might not be the best time to have a wedding inside Lucca, unless you like huge crowds or want the entire wedding party to dress up as soldiers of the Empire without anyone finding it strange. Still, it is very cool to walk the old streets surrounded by superheroes, elves, warriors in full coat of armor and the like. Lucca is really the perfect setting for this.

Locals joined in and quite a few stores replaced the Halloween pumpkins in their windows with Pirate gear (see the picture of Andrea below).

But my favourite sighting this year had to be when I saw to parties of Medieval warriors strolling on the Walls, come accross each other, draw their swords and engage in a furious (mock) brawl much to the delight of "regular" passers-by.