Favole di Luce
Gaeta's artistic illuminations between the sea, fairy tales, and video projections
About Favole di Luce
A Christmas told through light
Favole di Luce is the major Christmas festival in the town of Gaeta, in the province of Latina, Southern Lazio. Launched in 2016 by the municipal administration and growing year after year, it has become one of Italy's most renowned artistic illumination events: for two months, the historic center, the seafront, and the city squares are adorned with light installations, lanterns, video projections, and water features that create a true narrative trail under the open sky.
Two routes, twenty-seven stops
The 2025-2026 edition, the tenth, featured 27 points of interest distributed across two itineraries. The first, winding from the port area toward the center, is dedicated to marine and exotic themes, with mermaids, luminous waves, and fantastic creatures that reflect the city's maritime identity. The second leads the visitor into a fairy-tale epic made of castles, enchanted animals, and starry skies. Everything is designed to be explored on foot, with stops, photo opportunities, and views that change completely as night falls.
The San Francesco Fountain and video projections
The scenic heart of the event is the San Francesco Fountain in Piazza della Libertà, the star of a water, light, and music show held on weekends and holidays. This is complemented by architectural video projections on historic buildings and church facades, turning Gaeta's urban heritage into a living screen.
The Ice Nativity
Among the most beloved attractions is the Ice Nativity, presented as the largest in Italy and created by the Italian Ice Sculptors Association. The life-sized statues are entirely hand-carved from over eighteen tons of crystal-clear ice and kept in a refrigerated environment at -4 °C, set up along Corso Cavour. It remains open until Epiphany, and visitors are advised to dress warmly, as the internal temperature is quite cold.
Music, markets, and shows
The Favole di Luce calendar is not limited to lights. Each season brings a series of free concerts in Piazza XIX Maggio, featuring well-known names from Italian pop music and entertainment, culminating in the grand New Year's Eve concert. On weekends, Corso Cavour comes alive from late afternoon with street performers, puppet theater, street bands, and live music, while the Christmas market offers handicrafts, gift ideas, and local products. There is also a food area and a tourist train connecting the main points of the route.
Gaeta in winter
Visiting Gaeta during Favole di Luce also means discovering a city that shows a more intimate side in winter: the medieval district of Sant'Erasmo, the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity with the 'Montagna Spaccata' (Split Mountain), the Angevin-Aragonese Castle, and Serapo beach, all reachable on foot or in a few minutes by car. The local gastronomic tradition—the Gaeta 'tiella', Itrana olives, and Gulf fish—completes the experience. It is this combination of landscape, heritage, and spectacle that has made the event a fixed appointment for Christmas in Lazio.
Favole di Luce — edition 2026
A record-breaking edition
The tenth edition of Favole di Luce opened on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 4:00 PM in Piazza della Libertà, with the switching on of the illuminations and the water, light, and sound show of the San Francesco Fountain. The guest of honor was Paolo Belli, who performed a free concert in the evening with his Big Band in Piazza XIX Maggio.
The light trails
Twenty-seven installations made up two itineraries: the first dedicated to marine and exotic themes, the second to a fairy-tale epic. Video projections and artistic lanterns completed the light design of Gaeta's historic center.
The Ice Nativity
From November 15, 2025, to January 6, 2026, Italy's largest Ice Nativity returned along Corso Cavour: over eighteen tons of ice hand-carved by the Italian Ice Sculptors Association, housed within a refrigerated structure at -4 °C.
Programme Favole di Luce 2026
Inauguration — Sunday, November 9, 2025
- 4:00 PM, Piazza della Libertà: Lighting of the illuminations and San Francesco Fountain show, with Paolo Belli
- 6:30 PM, Piazza XIX Maggio: Free concert by Paolo Belli Big Band
Free concerts in Piazza XIX Maggio
- Saturday, November 15, 7:00 PM — Matteo Brancaleoni & The Italian Swing Band
- Saturday, November 22, 7:00 PM — Gabriele Cirilli, «Cirilli & Family»
- Sunday, November 30, 7:00 PM — Rosario Di Bella with Roberto Giacobbo
- Saturday, December 6 — «Back to 2000», 90s-2000s party
- Sunday, December 7 — Matthew Lee, «L'importante, nella vita, è avere un piano! Christmas Edition»
- Wednesday, December 31, from 11:00 PM — New Year's Eve concert with Paolo Belli, opening band, and DJ set
Lights and video projections
- Daily lighting between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM, at sunset, until late evening
- Water, light, and music show at the San Francesco Fountain: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays at 6:30 PM
- 27 points of interest on two themed routes (installations, artistic lanterns, video projections)
Ice Nativity — Corso Cavour
- From November 15, 2025, to January 6, 2026
- From November 15 to December 14: Fridays 2:00 PM-8:00 PM; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00 AM-1:00 PM and 2:00 PM-9:00 PM
- From December 15 to January 6: Open every day
Entertainment and market
- Every Saturday and Sunday from 5:00 PM, Corso Cavour: street performers, puppet theater, street bands, and live music
- Christmas market with handicrafts and local products
- Gaeta Train Tour Christmas train along the illumination route
- Food area
Highlights Favole di Luce 2026
- 27 light attractions on two themed routes, between sea and fairy tales
- Italy's largest Ice Nativity, hand-carved at -4 °C along Corso Cavour
- The water, light, and music show of the San Francesco Fountain
- Paolo Belli as guest of honor at the inauguration and New Year's Eve concert
- Free concerts in Piazza XIX Maggio with Matthew Lee, Gabriele Cirilli, and Matteo Brancaleoni
- Christmas market, street performers, and tourist train on weekends
Prices Favole di Luce 2026
Practical information — Favole di Luce
Getting there
By car: A1 Rome-Naples motorway, exit at Cassino, then take the SS630 and SS7 Appia towards Formia and Gaeta. By train: Formia-Gaeta station on the Rome-Naples line, then take a COTRAL bus (about 20 minutes). Nearest airports: Rome Fiumicino and Naples Capodichino.
Hours and access
The illuminations turn on every day around sunset, between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM, and remain active until late evening. The route is outdoors and free to enter; the Ice Nativity has a separate entrance with dedicated hours.
Tips
On weekends and holidays, the center is very crowded: it is best to arrive early and leave your car in the peripheral parking lots. Warm clothing is essential, especially for visiting the Ice Nativity.
Information
Info Point in Piazza XIX Maggio, Villa delle Sirene, and Piazza della Libertà. Phone +39 0771 469439 / +39 0771 469292 — [email protected] — www.luminariegaeta.it
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Where does it take place — Favole di Luce
Centro storico di Gaeta
Piazza XIX Maggio, 04024 Gaeta