The Magic of Christmas in Pozzuoli
The Christmas program of the Municipality of Pozzuoli featuring the Rione Terra, festive lights, and an ice rink
About Magic of Christmas
A Christmas of light in the heart of the Phlegraean Fields
Every December, the Municipality of Pozzuoli, in the Metropolitan City of Naples, brings The Magic of Christmas to life, the grand Christmas program that lights up the historic Flegrean center. For over a month, the city transforms into a path of light connecting Piazza della Repubblica, Corso Garibaldi, Via Roma, and the Via Napoli waterfront, all the way up to the Rione Terra fortress. It is a widespread Christmas, designed for both locals and visitors arriving from Naples and the rest of Campania: no entrance tickets, just an entire city opening its doors to families.
The Rione Terra, heart of the event
The acropolis of Rione Terra — the ancient core of Puteoli, reopened after decades of abandonment following bradyseism — is the true heart of the event. In the restored alleys and courtyards, artisan workshops reopen with exhibitions, live demonstrations, original creations, and activities for adults and children, generally open from late afternoon until late evening. Alongside the workshops, there are creative labs, exhibitions, book presentations, and entertainment, while Santa's House welcomes the little ones with multimedia experiences, small workshops, and the classic souvenir photo. The goal declared by the municipal administration is twofold: to support the work of local artisans and to bring the public, including tourists, back to a symbolic place of the city's rebirth.
Piazza della Repubblica: ice rink and Cassa Armonica
On the waterfront, Piazza della Repubblica becomes Pozzuoli's winter living room. Here, the large ice skating rink is set up, one of the most beloved attractions for families and young people, flanked by the historic Cassa Armonica, which hosts a program of concerts and musical shows distributed throughout the holidays: gospel, soul, contemporary pop, bands, and choirs accompany the evenings from the Immaculate Conception to Epiphany. There are also ice skating events featuring figure skating champions, who treat the public to free-entry galas.
Illuminations, video mapping, and exhibitions
Streets, squares, and panoramic viewpoints are lit up by scenic illuminations and enriched by spectacular video mapping projected onto buildings and monuments, highlighting the history and cultural heritage of the city. The program also includes photographic and painting exhibitions, short film screenings, and editorial presentations hosted in the municipal spaces of the historic center, from Palazzo Toledo to the halls of Palazzo Migliaresi in Rione Terra.
A Christmas spread throughout the city
The event does not remain confined to the center: over the years, the calendar has extended to the neighborhoods and districts — from the waterfront to Monterusciello, from Rione Toiano to Licola and Agnano — with Santa's villages, parades, street artists, and local concerts. It is a precise choice by the Municipality, which complements the spectacular program with social and solidarity initiatives aimed at families in difficulty and children hospitalized in local hospitals.
What to expect
- Artisan workshops and Christmas market in the restored alleys of Rione Terra
- Santa's House with workshops and activities for children
- Ice skating rink in Piazza della Repubblica
- Concerts at the Cassa Armonica, from gospel to folk music
- Illuminations and video mapping along a path of light in the historic center
- Exhibitions, workshops, and presentations at Palazzo Toledo and Rione Terra
Pozzuoli beyond Christmas
A visit during the holidays is also an opportunity to discover an extraordinary archaeological heritage: the Flavian Amphitheatre, the so-called Temple of Serapis (the ancient Macellum) overlooking the port, the Rione Terra with its underground archaeological route and the Cathedral, and more generally the volcanic landscape of the Phlegraean Fields. The port of Pozzuoli, from which ferries leave for Procida and Ischia, and the local gastronomic tradition — fresh fish, pizza, and Campanian Christmas sweets like struffoli and roccocò — complete a fascinating winter weekend in Campania.
Magic of Christmas — edition 2026
Christmas 2025-2026 in Pozzuoli
The Municipality of Pozzuoli presented the 2025-2026 Christmas Program on December 8, 2025, a calendar that intertwined tradition, entertainment, and widespread participation. Mayor Luigi Manzoni invited citizens and visitors to experience the city's atmosphere, emphasizing how the holidays were an opportunity to tell the story of Pozzuoli through its beauty, history, and hospitality.
The path of light
Streets, squares, and panoramic viewpoints were illuminated by scenic lights and video mapping, with light installations in Piazza della Repubblica, along Corso Garibaldi, Via Roma, and the Via Napoli waterfront. The result was a true path of light connecting the port to the Rione Terra acropolis. The light installations covered about thirty locations in the city, from Rione Terra to Corso Vittorio Emanuele, from Largo Santa Maria delle Grazie to the Villa Comunale, up to Monterusciello, Arco Felice, Rione Gescal, and Lake Lucrino: a program desired by the Deputy Mayor with responsibility for tourism and entertainment, Filippo Monaco, who brought the policy document to the Municipal Council well in advance compared to previous years.
Rione Terra and Piazza della Repubblica
At Rione Terra, artisan workshops reopened with labs, exhibitions, presentations, and entertainment for families, while Santa's House welcomed children until December 31. In Piazza della Repubblica, the large ice skating rink, built with a municipal investment of approximately 48,739 euros, remained available to the public for free, accompanied by the concert program at the Cassa Armonica.
The New Year's Eve Concert
The highlight came on New Year's Eve, with the New Year's Concert set up on the Lungomare Sandro Pertini of Via Napoli: a free stage open to citizens and visitors, with five artists in the lineup — Luca Sepe, Giuliano Palma, Veronica Simioli, Shade, and Febbre Italiana — hosted by Mino Monelli. The mayor described it as a moment of meeting and sharing, «a safe, inclusive party open to everyone».
Programme Magic of Christmas 2026
December 2025
- December 5 — Setup and opening of the ice skating rink in Piazza della Repubblica (the official inauguration scheduled for 6 PM was postponed for technical reasons)
- December 7, 5:30 PM — Inauguration of the ice rink with skaters Denys Kovalenko and Sharon Agostinelli, along with the switching on of the lights
- December 8, 5:30 PM — Grand inaugural parade, opening of artisan workshops and Santa's House at Rione Terra
- December 8, evening — Gospel concert by Giassel Voices at the Cassa Armonica in Piazza della Repubblica
- December 11, 5:30 PM — Palazzo Toledo: presentation of the novel Good Morning Palestine
- December 15-20 — Workshops in the Sala Bassa of Palazzo Migliaresi at Rione Terra, organized by the Associazione Semplicemente NOI
- December 15, 10:30 AM — Press conference for the project Pagine Libere: un viaggio tra libri e cultura (open to the public on December 19 at 4 PM)
- December 16, 5:30 PM — Palazzo Toledo: presentation of the thriller I bambini di nessuno
- December 17, from 6:30 PM — Rione Terra: Christmas Dreams, musical show by Tony Figo
- Until December 24 — Pozzuoli in Festa in the streets of the historic center: street artists, musicians, elves, living tree-nativity scene, and the Snow Queen
- December 18 — Visit to the young patients of the Pediatrics department of the Santa Maria delle Grazie Hospital
- Until December 31 — Santa's House at Rione Terra; artisan workshops open from 5:30 PM to 10 PM
- December 28, 6 PM — Grand Figure Skating Gala in Piazza della Repubblica with Giulia Isabella Paolino and Andrea Tuba
- December 29 and 30 — Visioni di donna: widespread exhibition dedicated to the female universe, with a painting-photography collective, short film screenings, and book presentations
- December 31 — Lungomare Sandro Pertini (Via Napoli): New Year's Eve Concert with free admission featuring Luca Sepe (music, humor, and audience interaction), Giuliano Palma (swing, ska, pop, and jazz), Veronica Simioli (jazz, soul, and contemporary pop), Shade (rap, pop urban, and freestyle), and Febbre Italiana (dance and Italian hits from the 90s to today); hosted by Mino Monelli, who also leads the midnight countdown
January 2026
- Until January 11 — Ice skating rink in Piazza della Repubblica, free admission
- Concerts and shows at the Cassa Armonica and light installations in the historic center until the end of the holidays
Highlights Magic of Christmas 2026
- Ice skating rink in Piazza della Repubblica, free for the first time
- Artisan workshops and Santa's House at Rione Terra
- Inaugural parade on December 8 and gospel concert by Giassel Voices
- Grand Figure Skating Gala on December 28
- Free New Year's Eve Concert on the Lungomare Pertini with Luca Sepe, Giuliano Palma, Veronica Simioli, Shade, and Febbre Italiana
- Illuminations and video mapping along the path of light in the historic center
- Exhibitions, workshops, and presentations at Palazzo Toledo and Palazzo Migliaresi
Prices Magic of Christmas 2026
Practical information — Magic of Christmas
How to get there
Pozzuoli is connected to Naples by the Cumana railway (Pozzuoli station, a short walk from Piazza della Repubblica) and by Line 2 of the subway (Pozzuoli-Solfatara stop, further from the center). By car, you can arrive from the Naples Tangenziale using the exits towards Pozzuoli and Via Campana; during peak days, it is advisable to leave your car in the peripheral parking lots and reach the center on foot.
Where it takes place
The events are concentrated between Piazza della Repubblica (ice rink and Cassa Armonica) and the Rione Terra (artisan workshops, Santa's House, exhibitions, and workshops), both in the historic center overlooking the port. Further events are held at Palazzo Toledo and in the city's neighborhoods.
Admission and information
Almost all initiatives have free admission. The complete program is published by the Municipality of Pozzuoli and promoted by local Flegrean news outlets in the weeks leading up to December 8th; it is advisable to check times and updates on the Municipality's official channels before traveling.
Tips
The best time to visit is the weekend, when the schedule is richest; the Rione Terra comes alive especially from the late afternoon, with the lights on and the shops open. Comfortable clothing is useful for tackling the slopes and cobblestones of the ancient acropolis.
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Where does it take place — Magic of Christmas
Rione Terra e Piazza della Repubblica
Piazza della Repubblica, 80078 Pozzuoli