Latinandia Village / Christmas Illuminates Latina

A month of Christmas in the heart of the Pontine city

"Christmas Illuminates Latina" is the official Christmas program promoted by the Municipality of Latina, the capital of the province of the same name in southern Lazio. From December 1st until Epiphany on January 6th, the city center—Piazza del Popolo, the Municipal Gardens, Piazza della Libertà, the pedestrian area, and Piazza San Marco—becomes a single, large path of lights, wooden huts, and shows. The heart of the initiative is the Latinandia Village, the Christmas village with markets that brings the city center to life starting December 8th.

The Village and Santa's House

The village opens on December 8th in the Municipal Palace Gardens, with an afternoon inauguration and the lighting of the tree in Piazza del Popolo. The main attraction is Santa's House, which can be visited for free with opening hours generally split into morning and afternoon sessions (roughly 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM, with reduced hours on Christmas Eve). Around the house, there is a continuous program of entertainment designed for children: street performers, bubble shows, magic, theatrical performances, dance exhibitions, mascot parades, and themed workshops.

Markets, Ferris wheel, and ice rink

The huts of the Latinandia Village host handicrafts, local products, and Christmas sweets, distributed between Piazza Unità d'Italia and Corso della Repubblica. Among the novelties that have most defined recent editions is the Ferris wheel installed in Piazza del Popolo—about thirty meters high, a first for the city according to the municipal administration—accompanied by the ice skating rink and a small park of vintage carousels with a 19th-century flair, which are very popular with families.

Nativity scenes, concerts, and New Year's Eve

• Nativity scene exhibition from December 8th to January 6th, with displays spread across municipal buildings and churches in the center.
• Concerts in Piazza del Popolo, from gospel on Christmas Day to pop music events between Boxing Day and the end of the year.
• New Year's Eve in the square with a concert and a collective toast on December 31st.
• Descent of the Befana on January 5th, traditionally performed by the Fire Brigade, who rappel from the building to deliver stockings to the children.
• Exhibitions at the Cambellotti Museum, shows at the D'Annunzio Theater, sports tournaments, and fun runs complete the program.

Why it's worth the trip

Latina is a "new town" founded in the 1930s, with a rationalist layout that lends itself perfectly to Christmas decorations: the wide squares and straight avenues become natural backdrops for illuminations and installations. Unlike mountain markets, the atmosphere here is that of an urban, popular festival, where the Pontine community gathers for an entire month for evening strolls, rides on the Ferris wheel, and ice skating. It is also a convenient base for exploring the rest of the province during the holidays, from the villages of the Lepini Mountains to the coast of Sabaudia and San Felice Circeo.

An event for all ages

The program is explicitly family-oriented: most activities are free, shows are scheduled in the late afternoon to be accessible to the youngest, and paid attractions (Ferris wheel, ice rink, carousels) remain at affordable rates. The complete program, updated day by day, is published by the Municipality of Latina on its official website in the weeks leading up to the start.