Several days before the start of Lucca Comics small marquees appear in many places dotted all around Lucca centre. Several weeks before these, even larger ones have started construction so as to house vast exhibition areas in the bigger piazzas and even outside the walls. Many unused shop premises are suddenly transformed into places ready to sell merchandise connected with the event.

The large banners testify that Lucca Comics is also about computer video games, films, television programmes and books from all corners of the globe. Prominent this year was the soon to be released sci-fi film Interstellar as well old favourites such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Batman and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Particularly inspiring and typifying the sheer joy and exuberance of the event are those devotees that dress up in their favourite characters from Darth Vadar to Dr Who to Assassins Creed and Knights Templar. Into this mixture is added the night of Halloween on 31 October which brings witches, zombies, ghosts and ghouls onto the streets of Lucca. Just to wander the streets, to see and be seen, is a delight for both participants and spectators alike. All manner of costumes are on display, some are remarkably inventive, some are outlandish and some are simply just a tee-shirt so as to join in the fun.

Last year rainy weather kept the number of visitors to a mere 300,000 whilst this year ticket sales alone numbered around 250,000 and due to several days of fine sunny weather the total number of attendees must have swelled to over half a million during the four day period. At times it was difficult to walk around the city and on the walls, let alone try to cycle whilst a car at one point seemed permanently stuck in the Via Fillungo unable to move.

Talking to bar and restaurant owners they look forward to Lucca Comics weekend when many transfer their menus to cater for fast-foods of every description. The mostly younger participants in their teens and twenties can enjoy the very un-Italian delights of hotdogs and Chinese noodles whilst those with a discerning palate can still find delicious porchetta, foccaccia and panini filled with prosciutto, mozzarella and salami.

Naturally, the streets  and extra rubbish bins get clogged with litter by Sunday night but to the great credit of the authorities and refuse collectors the town was pretty well spotless come Monday morning. The city returned to its usual seasonal tranquillity emphasised by the fact that many bars close for a few days after all their hard work. Sadly for us customers - but not the owners and staff - many bars and restaurants close for ferie or business holiday in November after Lucca Comics, returning to open around February next year. The seasonal nature of their work means almost continuous opening hours during the year whilst some remain open for the Christmas period. For those needing extra work there is always the winter season in Abetone or further afield in the Italian Alps or the Dolomites.