Courtesy of my friend Anna Benedetto, who promotes these events, there is a wonderful series of events in Lucca which will be of particular interest to all lovers of matters Napoleonic.

Fans, buffets, quadrilles and cotillons form part of historical re-enactments of the Napoleonic era in a very accessible way without one having to hunt for a suitable costume.

The events take place in Lucca’s Palazzo Ducale the historic centre of the city’s government and the residence of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi as well as of Maria Luisa di Borbone, after having been the seat of the Luccan republic for four hundred years.

The events run from 6 March to 3 April, at 5pm to 7 pm, with free admission and take place in the state rooms of the Ducal Palace. It is also possible to attend just one event.

Margarita Martinez, an Australian from Sydney, former director of Opera Australia and Victoria State Opera, before moving to Florence, where she promotes the rediscovery and spread of vintage dance and launched the Napoleonic Ball which enjoys international success, is the organiser.

From etiquette to food, to clothes from the Regency of Jane Austen to the Empire of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, there will be five conference-laboratories on history, costume and society. They are five historical laboratories for learning about court life of the first decades of the nineteenth century. The five meetings will develop many themes: court customs, in particular Napoleonic customs characterized by a very rigid code dictated personally by the Emperor and in force at the Paris court as in all Napoleonic courts.

The initiative was born following the success of the Napoleonic dances and the afternoon dedicated to Luigi Boccherini’s Fandango, held during the last two years.

Programme Events

Tuesday, March 6: “Ventagli e Bicorni”.
(Fans and Hats). Through the dance, discovering the subtle language of the court in the Palazzo Ducale.

Tuesday, March 13: “Fashion: a ‘battle’ of styles”. Jane Austen’s Regency and Elisa Baciocchi’s Empire. You will be able to see and try faithful reproductions of men’s and women’s clothes with their accessories.

Tuesday, March 20: “Le Buffet Froid – food presentation”. The table as an essential part of scenography. Antonin Carême, great chef of the Empire and his ‘extraordinaires’ of cotton candy sweets.

Tuesday, March 27: “Contraddanze e Quadriglie”. (Contredances and quadrilles.) First practical lesson on the steps and basic dance figures at the time of Napoleon. No dance experience is required, but the use of shoes without heels is required.

Tuesday, April 3: “Minuetti and Cotillons”. Second practical lesson on the choreography of the various Napoleonic dances. No dance experience is required, but the use of shoes without high heels is required.

“Ballo a Palazzo” is an initiative of the “Napoleon and Elisa: from Paris to Tuscany” association, created on the occasion of the bicentenary of the installation of the Duchess Maria Luisa di Borbone in Lucca (1817-2017), whose commemorative events are sponsored by the City of Lucca, the Province of Lucca, the Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca Foundation and the Banca del Monte di Lucca Foundation.

Info: Facebook; Margarita Martinez: mailto, 340 853 4505. @annabe