Christmas in Italy is a very heartfelt and increasingly spectacular celebration. Some places are famous for the events and features they offer in this time of the year. We refer to the Christmas Markets in Bolzano and its district, we talk about the cultural events in Venice, Florence and Rome. We talk about the very famous “nativity street”, via San Gregorio Armeno, in Naples, where handmade cribs are on exhibition and for sale. But here we want to suggest some different, alternative destinations where you can decide to celebrate this very special winter holiday. Come with us to …
Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, although less famous than those of Como and Garda, celebrated by literature and entertainment. But Lake Maggiore, which opens between the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont – and Switzerland on the other side, is characterized by a tiny archipelago, the Borromean Islands.
These five islands on the Piedmont side (district of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola) are home to just 100 inhabitants, almost all fishermen or priests, and offer breathtaking views to visiting tourists. During Christmas, the five islands are artistically illuminated and appear like luminous ships that reflect dozens of bright colors on the water. Admiring them from the coast is wonderful. But also landing on the two largest – Isola Bella and Isola Dei Pescatori – and enjoying the local Christmas traditions is worth the trip. The closest airport to reach Lake Maggiore is Milan Malpensa (MXP) just 50 km away.
Umbria
Medieval Umbria is perhaps the most beautiful setting to celebrate Christmas. This Italian region is rich in greenery, mountains, natural caves and there is no shortage of representations of traditional living nativity scenes everywhere. If you decide to visit this region at Christmas, we recommend – in addition to the famous Giant Tree of Gubbio – a visit to Città di Castello, with its exhibitions of handmade nativity cribs; or to Castiglione del Lago, where the lights on the shore reflect on Lake Trasimeno; or to the village of Spello, one of the most beautiful in Italy, which comes alive with bagpipers and figures as if the town itself were becoming a nativity scene. The reference airport is Perugia Umbria International (PEG).
Salerno Lights
Have you ever seen the Luci d’Artista of Salerno? If you haven’t already, go and admire this Christmas show in the capital city of the territory that also hosts the Amalfi Coast. These “Artistic Lights” are spectacular coloured lights that decorate Salerno’s old town, forming real scenes and paintings with the help of light bulbs and electric games! From Salerno, the Amalfi Coast is only 25 km away and each village that composes it resembles a living nativity scene. The airport that will welcome you is Naples (NAP).
Matera
Christmas in Matera is an experience to live at least once in a lifetime. Matera, in Basilicata, was a poor and degraded city until the 1970s … but it was relaunched thanks to the cinema settings and the many artists who chose it as their home.
Today this city, whose historic part is literally dug into the rock, becomes a huge living nativity scene at Christmas. Walking in the “Sassi” area (the cathedral, the Casa Grotta, the rock church of Idris, the Palombaro Lungo bridge …) with the lights and the markets is a unique emotion in the world. The reference airport is Bari Airport (BRI).
Custonaci in Sicily
Custonaci is a small town of 5000 inhabitants, in the district of Trapani. Here we are in the extreme western part of Sicily, in a panoramic corner that overlooks both the coast and the surrounding mountains. Inside one of these rocky mountains, close to the town, there is a gigantic cave. So big that, in the past, a village was built inside. This is Grotta Mangiapane, in the Scurati neighbourhood, where at Christmas the entire town organizes a real global living nativity scene. Walking among those rock houses dug into the rocky cave you really feel projected into ancient Palestine … though a few kilometers from here you can still visit Erice, Trapani, Palermo itself. Trapani Airport (TPS) is the closest to the site, if you will plan your visit. (photo by Pikist com)