Do you want to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve in a place with mild temperatures while avoiding long plane journeys? Puglia could be the right destination for you! This beautiful Italian region is by no means just sea and beaches, as you might think, but offers plenty of entertainment opportunities even in winter. In this guide, we have collected some tips to help you find what to do and see in Puglia during Christmas holidays.
Christmas in Apulia: markets, nativity scenes and festivities
Christmas markets, a great classic of end-of-year festivities in Apulia, are an opportunity to fully experience the Christmas atmosphere and find many really special gift ideas, the result of the craft tradition of the area. The Apulian Christmas markets that enliven town squares and streets are held in many towns and villages, beautifully decorated for the occasion: Among the most beautiful are those in Brindisi, where, among the various wooden stalls, you can enjoy delicious local specialities. Another wonderful market is the so-called “Christmas Village” set up at Fiera di Foggia, one of the largest in all of southern Italy, which hosts shows and events throughout the month of December.
Apulia has always taken special care in setting up Christmas decorations, which can be found in the churches of every city, outside private homes, along porticoes, squares and city streets. The most commonly used materials are traditionally wood, terracotta and papier-mâché. Particularly artistic at this time of year are cribs: in addition to the one in Lecce, the nativity scene in Galatina, the oldest in Puglia, and the nativity scene made of sculptures inside the cathedral of Altamura, in the province of Bari.
In addition to artistic nativity scenes, living nativity scenes are also a strong tradition in Apulia: some of the most evocative have Valle d’Itria as their setting, located between the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto. Here, among trulli, masserie and uliveti, medieval villages come alive with living nativity scenes to celebrate the Nativity, along with traditional Christmas markets and other tasty gastronomic events, promoting local specialities.
New Year’s Eve in Apulia: where to go
New Year’s Eve in Apulia is an occasion for great fun, thanks to concerts and spectacular events organised in Apulia’s major cities. Among the most popular destinations for Apulian New Year’s Eve, we cannot fail to mention Alberobello: amidst Christmas markets and living nativity scenes, the New Year’s Eve lights of Alberobello are among the most marvellous in the area. Among the other destinations, Monte Sant’Angelo, in the province of Foggia, has as its backdrop the Gargano promontory: is famous, during the festive season, for the Sanctuary of St. Michael with Grotto, a UNESCO heritage site, and particularly impressive during the night of San Silvestro.
Do you want to spend the end-of-year festivities in Apulia, admiring the wonderful decorations, nativity scenes, markets, and enjoy New Year’s Eve events and concerts? Discover all our offers, to enjoy your Christmas holidays to the fullest! If, on the other hand, you want to treat yourself to a complete trip to this beautiful region, discover our tours dedicated specifically to Christmas and New Year, such as the tour of central Apulia from Bari or the mini tour of Apulia which also includes a visit to beautiful Matera!