Santa Claus Village - Vivi Baronissi a Natale

A Christmas village in the Irno Valley

Baronissi is a town of just over 17,000 residents in the province of Salerno, Campania, set in the Irno Valley just a few kilometres from the regional capital. For several years, the Municipality of Baronissi has hosted a widespread festive program between December and Epiphany called "Vivi Baronissi a Natale," which brings together illuminations, performances, workshops, and popular traditions. The most beloved attraction remains the Santa Claus Village, a destination that fills the city park every year with families arriving from neighbouring towns.

The Santa Claus Village at Parco del Ciliegio

The village is set up in the Parco del Ciliegio, which completely changes its appearance for a few weeks. At the centre of the green space, you will find Santa's wooden cottage with its fireplace and the grand decorated tree, right next to the nativity scene inaugurated on the same day as the lights. Children can enter the cottage, deliver their letters, and enjoy entertainment and workshops run by local associations. In late December and early January, the village is open every day, and admission is always free.

«Vivi Baronissi a Natale»: a widespread program

The program extends well beyond the village. Everything begins in the Villa Comunale, where a collective countdown accompanies the switching on of the lights, transforming the public garden into a space for entertainment and creative workshops. In the following weeks, the city comes alive with travelling shows: bands of elves, dancing gnomes, glowing stilt-walkers, mascots, fairy-tale characters, and even the Grinch. There are bubble shows, children's theatre, animated readings, and creative recycling workshops, while the PalaIrno hosts the Great Sports Festival with local sports clubs.

Music, nativity scenes, and local hamlets

The musical aspect is one of the most carefully curated: gospel concerts in churches, polyphonic choirs, and stories under the tree accompanied by live performances. Alongside the events in the town centre, the surrounding hamlets mobilize with living nativity scenes—in recent years in Caprecano, Sava, and Aiello—which offer the most authentic dimension of the Campanian Christmas, featuring reconstructed traditional crafts, open fires, and local tastings. There is no shortage of charitable initiatives, from collections for Telethon and AIRC to activities designed for the elderly and people with disabilities.

The Befana on horseback on January 6th

The closing event is the most iconic. On January 6th, the Befana rides through Baronissi on her horse, distributing sweets and stockings to children, with a stop at Parco del Ciliegio for morning tastings and further events in the Villa Comunale and the hamlets. It is an image that has become the signature of Christmas in Baronissi and one of the reasons why it is worth planning a visit specifically on Epiphany.

Why visit

• Everything is free: the village, shows, and workshops are free to enter, promoted by the municipal administration.
• Family-friendly: activities are designed for children of all ages, with both indoor and outdoor play areas.
• Very close to Salerno: it can easily be combined with a visit to the "Luci d'Artista" light displays in the capital, just ten kilometres away.
• Authentic tradition: living nativity scenes, choirs, and horses tell the story of a popular Christmas that has never ceased to be celebrated in Campania.