Night of the Lanterns

A village lit only by lanterns

The Night of the Lanterns is a Christmas event that, in early December, turns off the artificial lights of Saracinesco to relight it with the soft glow of hundreds of lanterns. The heart of the event is the illuminated path that winds from the historic center's alleys up to the village's highest viewpoint: a slow, silent, almost meditative walk where flickering light guides visitors through medieval vistas, stone arches, and views over the Aniene Valley. The initiative is organized by the Pro Loco of Saracinesco in collaboration with the Associazione Corte Saracena, under the patronage of the Municipality of Saracinesco and the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital.

A young tradition, already deeply loved

The first edition took place on Saturday, December 7, 2024, and its success immediately turned it into a tradition. The second edition, on Sunday, December 7, 2025, attracted visitors from across the province of Rome and the Lazio region. The date, chosen on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, effectively kicks off the Advent season in this small mountain town, which, at an altitude of about 900 meters, is one of the highest villages in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital.

The program: music, fire-eaters, and a snowfall at court

The festivities begin in the afternoon: at 5:00 PM, the Church of San Michele Arcangelo hosts a Christmas concert that officially opens the evening, while from 6:00 PM the village comes alive in every corner. Along the streets and squares, you will find:

• folk music and roving performances;
• fire-eater shows and street performers;
• the evocative snowfall at court, which dusts the heart of the village in white;
• Santa Claus with his elves and bouncy castles for children;
• hidden nativity scenes in the alleys, to be discovered like a Christmas treasure hunt.

Street food and flavors of the Aniene Valley

The Night of the Lanterns is also a celebration of taste: over ten stands distributed across three areas of the village offer traditional flavors. In Piazza Roma, you can find polenta, mixed fried foods, piadinas, desserts, and mulled wine; along Via Principe di Piemonte, chicken or tripe sandwiches and various sweets; in Piazza San Michele, red wine and meatball sandwiches. Alongside the food, local craft stalls offer the chance to discover the creations of local artisans, in the true spirit of a Christmas market.

Saracinesco, the village of Saracen origins

Perched on a rocky spur above the Aniene Valley, about fifty kilometers from Rome, Saracinesco is one of the smallest and highest municipalities in Lazio. Its name refers to the legendary Saracen origin of its founders. The village, almost entirely pedestrian, with its narrow streets and stone houses, is the ideal setting for an event that focuses entirely on atmosphere: the light of the lanterns, the silence of the mountains, and the scent of mulled wine make for one of the most evocative Christmas experiences in the Lazio region.