Christmas in Acireale

Christmas in the Baroque setting of Acireale

Every winter, the Municipality of Acireale, in the province of Catania, dons its most evocative attire: the squares, churches, and palaces of the historic center—a jewel of Eastern Sicilian Baroque—serve as a natural stage for an extensive program of Christmas events. Festive lights illuminate Piazza Duomo and Piazza Garibaldi, while the scent of local delicacies mingles with the notes of concerts and traditional Sicilian folk songs.

Artistic nativity scenes and "The Enchantment of Nativity Scenes"

The heart of the festival lies in its artistic nativity scenes, set up in churches and iconic city landmarks. The "L'Incanto dei Presepi" (The Enchantment of Nativity Scenes) exhibition trail leads visitors through masterpieces of sacred craftsmanship, with an unmissable guided tour of the Neapolitan Nativity Scene in the crypt of the Basilica of San Sebastiano, one of the most refined examples of this tradition in the Acireale area.

Markets and Santa's House

Piazza Garibaldi hosts the Christmas markets, where decorated and illuminated wooden stalls offer local handicrafts and typical Sicilian food products. The same square features Santa's House, designed for children, and hosts tastings of artisanal panettone, a tribute to local pastry-making.

Concerts, traditions, and folklore

The basilicas of Acireale host a series of Christmas concerts: from the repertoire of the Teatro Massimo Bellini Choir of Catania to the sounds of the Gospel Concert in the Basilica of San Sebastiano. There is no shortage of popular traditions, with the lighting of the traditional "U Zuccu" log in Piazza Duomo on Christmas Eve and the Christmas Night concert dedicated to sacred and secular songs and stories. The festivities conclude on January 6th with the historic Procession of the Three Kings and the arrival of the Magi from the sea in Santa Maria la Scala.

An event for the whole city

Organized by the Municipality of Acireale, the Acireale Christmas is a free, city-wide event that involves the entire historic center and its surrounding districts. Over the years, it has become one of the most popular Christmas appointments in the province of Catania, capable of uniting religious devotion, the rediscovery of Sicilian traditions, and the promotion of the city's artistic heritage.