Luci d'Artista – Salerno turns into a mesmerizing Christmas town

One of the best things about the Christmas season is when cities and towns turn into dreamy Christmas villages with beautiful lights and traditional markets. Italy is probably not the first country that comes to mind when talking about Christmas fairs but, the city of Salerno literally outshines many other destinations. 

For thirteen years already, the southern-Italian town organizes the popular “Luci d'Artista” – event. Every year there is a different main topic which shows in hundreds of different light installations spread all over the city. Wherever you turn in the city center, you will find anything from a giant Christmas tree, animals, hanging street decorations, and light tunnels. But it is not just the diverse and fun light installations that are worth seeing; there is also a big Christmas market offering local delicacies, traditional Christmas sweets, and savory street food. Next to indulging in typical specialties and discovering the illuminated streets, you can also choose between many different amusement rides or enjoy the view over the coastal city on a 60-meter high Ferris wheel. 

Luci d'Artista starts around the middle of November, and the colorful light figures stay until the end of January. In 2019 the Christmas-themed event begins on the 15th of November and lasts until the 19th of January 2020. 

Approximately one million visitors from all over the world come to experience the dreamy Christmas city at sea. Because of its vast popularity, it can be tough to find a parking space in the city. The better and more carefree option to arrive in Salerno** **during the exhibition is to go by bus or train. With over 130 000 inhabitants, it is a rather big city, so the infrastructure is well developed and offers direct connections to many Italian cities.

The area of artistic light sculptures is so big that it is almost impossible to see everything in one day, so it is definitely worth staying overnight in Salerno or a nearby town. After Naples, it is the second biggest city of the Italian region Campagna and a great base to explore the area and the world-famous Amalfi Coast. 

Luci d'Artista is undoubtedly a must-visit event for every Christmas enthusiast. With all the wonderful light installations, food, and entertainment options, even the ones with inner 'grinches' will enjoy it. 😉