Every year there are many and varied Christmas celebrations in Friuli Venezia Giulia, together with the traditional markets: from Udine, Pordenone, Trieste and Tarcento, to Lignano Sabbiadoro, San Daniele del Friuli and Gradisca d’Isonzo. All these places are charming and colourful during this time of the year.
Spilimbergo, also kown as “City of the Mosaic“, is characterized not only by small stands scattered all over the streets and souvenirs and kiosks, but also by the numerous events that take place every December, because Christmas here starts early.
This pretty little town in the province of Pordenone, twinned with the Carinthian city of Sachsenburg, is looking forward to welcoming the delegation of Austrian neighbours this year, to officially start Christmas holidays. Therefore, on Sunday 3rd December, the delegates from across the Alps will gift the locals with the crown of Advent and, after the lighting of the special fir tree that dominates Piazza Garibaldi, the concert of the Austrian band TK-Hasslacher and that of the winners of “Diapason d’ Oro“, the International competition for young musicians will start the numerous events which will characterize Christmas 2017.
After all, that is what Spilimbergo promises and that is what it always does.
A heterogeneous programme characterizes the whole month of December, starting from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th (to coincide with the opening of the local Christmas Market) with the event “In a Pastry shop“. For three days Piazza San Rocco will be literally full of delicious sweet things, together with demonstrations of artistic carving and surprises. In detail, on Friday 8th from noon, the local pastry chefs will work hard to finish the “Mega tortaINpiazza“, a huge cake which will be cut and shared, a few hours later, with all those who are attending the event. On Saturday 9th, instead, there will be the “Dolcemosaico“: a gift of high pastry art, dedicated to the city and designed by authentic professionals which will delight everyone’s palate.
Children will also have their fun: they can take pictures with Santa Claus on Saturday 9th and take part in the Ghirigori workshop on Sunday 10th, from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm. The workshop will allow the youngest children to indulge their imagination by modeling the corn paste to create Christmas decorations. And what about Santa’s little trains set up during the whole weekend (but also on 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th December)? A real walking tour to share, lasting 45 minutes, with departure from Piazza Garibaldi from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm and at the cost of only 3€. Not to mention that on Sunday, December 17th there will be the “Santa Claus March of all ages“, from 6 to 12 and 18 kilometers of route.
During this time of the year, Spilimbergo offers something for everyone. Examples are the free entrance concerts of Palazzo Tadea (from December 3), art exhibitions inspired by famous actors of the past, the exhibition of the monumental nativity scene in the Cathedral, cultural moments such as “Discovering the ancient grains” or the presentation of the book “Chocolates” by the chocolatier Danilo Freguja.
“Too god-damned much” Charles Bukowski wrote .
Because Christmas, in Spilimbergo, offers a lot and has everything you desire for!
Copyright photos: www.comune.spilimbergo.pn.it (1 and 3); www.ilfriuli.it