Christmas in the Village in Castel di Tora

An open-air nativity scene on Lake Turano

Every winter, from December 8th until Epiphany, Castel di Tora dons its most evocative attire. This small municipality in the Province of Rieti, overlooking the waters of Lake Turano and recognized as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, hosts "Christmas in the Village", a festival that accompanies residents and visitors throughout the holiday season with nativity scenes, music, and folk traditions.

The exhibition of widespread nativity scenes

The heart of the initiative is the "Widespread nativity scenes through the village streets" exhibition. Amidst cobblestone alleys, stairways, and ancient stone houses, a path unfolds that tells the story of the Nativity through the art and manual ingenuity of the citizens. Every corner of the medieval historic center, from the small scenic square to the pentagonal tower, becomes the setting for a nativity scene, in an open-air itinerary that can be explored freely, offering unforgettable views of the lake and Mount Navegna.

The Christmas carol concert

The most anticipated musical moment is the Christmas carol concert, held in the Baroque Church of San Giovanni Evangelista. Recent editions have featured the Eos Women's Choir and the Musicanova Choir, accompanied on the piano by maestro Mario Madonna and conducted by Fabrizio Barchi. An intimate and intense event, where the frescoed vaults of the church amplify the magic of traditional carols.

The Befana songs and Epiphany

The festivities conclude in the spirit of the Befana. On January 5th, the traditional Befana songs take the stage, a musical and colorful celebration designed especially for children. On Epiphany day, January 6th, the Befana makes her entrance into the Gabriella Parca Multipurpose Hall with sweets and surprises; this is followed by the Befana Lunch, organized by the Pia Unione di Sant'Anatolia, which gathers the entire community around the table.

Castel di Tora, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy

Experiencing Christmas in Castel di Tora means discovering a gem of Lazio just over an hour from Rome. The village preserves an intact medieval layout, dominated by the pentagonal tower of the ancient castle, and guards rare and evocative places nearby such as the hermitage of San Salvatore and the ghost village of Antuni, perched on a peninsula of the lake. In winter, with the lights and nativity scenes, the atmosphere becomes even more intimate: an authentic Christmas, far from mass tourism, perfect for families.