Christmas Markets in the Village

Christmas lights up in the village of Castellabate

Every December, the ancient village of Castellabate, in the province of Salerno, dresses up for the Christmas Markets in the Village. The medieval alleys leading up to the Castello dell'Abate, Piazza 10 Ottobre 1123, and the Belvedere San Costabile fill with stalls, festive lights, and traditional folk melodies, creating one of the most evocative Christmas routes on the Cilento coast.

The initiative is promoted by the Municipality of Castellabate in collaboration with local associations and businesses, with the goal of extending the tourist season beyond the summer months and encouraging visitors to discover the town in winter, when the village regains a more intimate and cozy atmosphere. In recent years, the event has become a staple of the municipal calendar, attracting visitors from all over Campania and beyond.

A journey through alleys, lights, and crafts

The heart of the event lies in the artisan stalls, set up along the alleys and small squares of the historic center. Handmade creations, Christmas decorations, gift items, and traditional crafts showcase local expertise within an urban setting that is a masterpiece in its own right.

• Handmade crafts and Christmas ornaments
• Cilento food and wine products
• Festive lights and scenic displays throughout the village
• Refreshment and tasting points
• Roaming entertainment for children and adults

The flavors of a Cilento Christmas

Alongside the crafts, you will find sweets and typical products of the Cilento region, the stars of the tastings offered by exhibitors. It is the perfect opportunity to sample local Christmas specialties and products from area farms, often presented directly by the producers themselves. The culinary journey intertwines with the craft route, turning a stroll through the stalls into a small tour of Cilento's gastronomic culture.

Performances, music, and workshops

The program goes beyond just shopping. On opening days, the village hosts roaming music, theater and dance performances, storytellers, creative workshops for children, and entertainment designed for families. In the 2025 edition, the inauguration took place at the Belvedere San Costabile with a theatrical prologue, followed by dance school performances, a storyteller show, and a DJ set in Piazza 10 Ottobre 1123: a formula that blends tradition with contemporary entertainment.

Dates for the 2026 edition

The 2026 event calendar for the Municipality of Castellabate features the markets on December 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 19, and 20, 2026, with the long Immaculate Conception weekend serving as the highlight of the event. In previous editions, stalls were open continuously from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, allowing visitors to experience the village both in daylight and in the evening atmosphere of the festive lights.

Castellabate: between medieval village and sea

Castellabate is located entirely within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, in Campania. The upper town, dominated by the Castello dell'Abate, preserves a medieval layout of arches, stone portals, and sudden glimpses of the Tyrrhenian Sea: from the Belvedere San Costabile, the view embraces the entire gulf. Visiting the markets means combining Christmas shopping with a walk through the historic center, a unique way to discover the Cilento coast off-season.

The event is part of a broader Christmas program that the Municipality organizes each year, featuring concerts, children's shows, and events spread across the village and the coastal hamlets of Santa Maria and San Marco.