Natale che Unisce – Sulmona Christmas Program

Christmas in the heart of Sulmona

With the first chill of December, the historic center of Sulmona, in the province of L'Aquila, transforms into a grand Christmas stage thanks to "Natale che Unisce", the event program promoted by the Municipality of Sulmona through the Department of Culture. For about a month, from the lighting of the tree until the Epiphany, the city's squares and palaces host a packed schedule designed for residents and visitors of all ages. Festive lights illuminate Corso Ovidio, Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza Carlo Tresca, and Piazza XX Settembre, the baroque-style "living room" that serves as the hub for the evening festivities.

A program for all ages

The program blends culture, tradition, and entertainment. Recurring highlights include guided tours, exhibitions, concerts, and theatrical performances, as well as the traveling living nativity scene that winds through the narrow streets of the center and Santa's House, set up in historic buildings like Palazzo Tabassi. For the little ones, there is no shortage of fun with the electric tourist train running through the historic center, carousel rides, creative workshops, and Santa's sleigh.

Music, markets, and crafts

The soundtrack of Christmas in Sulmona is provided by Christmas choirs, gospel groups, and marching bands that animate the tree-lighting ceremony and the evenings in the center. Along Corso Ovidio, the "Gli Artigiani Creativi" market comes to life, featuring selected master artisans who showcase their creations and local products: a perfect opportunity to discover the excellence of the region, starting with the famous Sulmona sugared almonds (confetti), the city's pride worldwide.

New Year's Eve and Epiphany in the square

The most anticipated moment is New Year's Eve in Piazza XX Settembre, with music and celebrations continuing late into the night, followed by the New Year's Concert at the prestigious Teatro Maria Caniglia. The festivities conclude on January 6th with the Alpine Befana, bringing sweets, hot chocolate, and toasts to the center for both adults and children.

Sulmona, an art city in Abruzzo

Celebrating Christmas in Sulmona means experiencing it in one of the most beautiful villages in inland Abruzzo, nestled in the Peligna Valley and surrounded by the mountains of the Majella National Park. As the birthplace of the poet Ovid and the capital of sugared almonds, Sulmona offers an intimate and authentic atmosphere in winter, where Christmas tradition merges with the historical and artistic heritage of its medieval and Renaissance center.