Christmas in Ferrara 2025: lights, shows and wonder in the heart of the Renaissance

As 2025 draws to a close, Ferrara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for thirty years, prepares to bid farewell to a year rich in celebrations. Throughout the festive season, the city’s historic center becomes the perfect setting for a family Christmas among history, music and dazzling light installations. It is a journey to be experienced at a slow pace, in a city where the harmony between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance creates a truly timeless atmosphere.

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Once again this year, Ferrara’s old town will be transformed into a magical place. From 22 November, the traditional Christmas market will fill Piazza Trento e Trieste with its charming wooden chalets offering local delicacies, crafts and decorations. A majestic Christmas tree will illuminate the square, while more than 130 kilometers of sparkling lights will guide visitors through evening strolls and shopping, enhancing the city’s most iconic landmarks with scenic displays.

Along Via Mazzini, the verses of Orlando Furioso will shine above the street like a poetic thread suspended in the air, a tribute to the genius of Ludovico Ariosto and to Ferrara’s Renaissance heritage, celebrating the 30th anniversary of its UNESCO recognition. On 8 December, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place in Piazza Cattedrale, followed by the traditional concert Movie Xmas Song, filling the evening with festive melodies and cinematic charm.

Every weekend and public holiday from 6 to 21 December, the Church of San Paolo will host Triumphus Lucis, an immersive video mapping show that brings the church’s architecture to life through light and sound. From 13 December to 4 January, the Rotonda Foschini will turn into a living Christmas postcard, complete with a spectacular artificial snowfall. Concerts, film screenings, Christmas villages and many more experiences will fill the calendar, offering countless ways to enjoy the magic of the holidays in Ferrara, even while traveling.

The highlight of the festivities is, without a doubt, New Year’s Eve, featuring the legendary Fire of the Este Castle. At midnight on 31 December, fireworks and music light up the night sky over the Castello Estense in a breathtaking show that symbolically “sets fire” to the historic fortress in a blaze of color and emotion. Every year, around thirty thousand people gather from all over the world to witness this spectacular celebration, which continues with a lively open-air party in Piazza Castello.

For those seeking a more intimate way to welcome the new year, Ferrara also offers elegant dinners and exclusive events, from refined menus in top restaurants to traditional festive banquets where the flavors of local cuisine meet contemporary creativity.

Adding to the festive atmosphere is a rich cultural program. At Palazzo dei Diamanti, the exhibition Chagall. Witness of His Time takes visitors on a poetic journey through dream and color, exploring themes of spirituality, memory and hope. The Teatro Comunale “Claudio Abbado” presents a diverse lineup of performances, from opera to dance to theater, featuring renowned national and international artists. Visitors can also rediscover the newly reopened Palazzina Marfisa d’Este, the Schifanoia Museum with its splendid frescoes, and the cinematic world of the Spazio Antonioni, each a gem in Ferrara’s rich cultural mosaic.

At Christmas, Ferrara becomes an embracing city that blends grand spectacle with small, everyday wonders. Perfect for a weekend getaway, whether as a couple or with children, it is a destination for those who love art, good food and timeless holiday traditions.

Discover dates, venues and all event updates on the dedicated page https://www.inferrara.it/en/natale-a-ferrara